Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
God’s Word is indeed living and powerful, for as I read the above verse the other day–a verse memorized, quoted, and claimed by many Christians–God spoke to my heart something new.
I’ve always read this verse through the eyes of trusting in Him–through the eyes of looking to Him for wisdom in all circumstances. And I still believe this is an important truth evident in these verses. We as Christians must trust in Him and lean on Him for the understanding. Yet the other day God moved my focus from “trust” to “acknowledge.” In all my ways, I am to acknowledge him.
So what does “acknowledge” mean? Here is the list of definitions from Dictionary.com
- to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of:
- to show or express recognition or realization of:
- to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of:
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to show or express appreciation or gratitude for:
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to indicate or make known the receipt of:
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to take notice of or reply to: (Find it here)
When God calls us to acknowledge Him in all our ways, He isn’t calling for lip service. He isn’t calling for some perfunctory prayer. He is looking for true heartfelt recognition. He’s calling for His children to fully recognize His existence, His presence, His authority, His power, and His goodness. We are not only to look for Him in all circumstances; we are to acknowledge Him in all of them as well. Acknowledge that the timing of the check in the mail could only be from God. Acknowledge that the apparent setback must have an eternal purpose in God’s kingdom. Acknowledge that what the enemy means for evil, God can use for good. Acknowledge that struggles may be the very means by which our faith is strengthened. Acknowledge God in all our ways. Give credit where credit is due. Ascribe to God the value He deserves.
He is God!
Nothing surprises Him. And nothing comes to us that did not pass through His sovereignty first.
Therefore I encourage you today to watch for and acknowledge God in all the details of your life, even the unpleasant ones. God never promised us an easy life, but He did promise that as we seek Him, we will find Him. So acknowledge Him–recognize His existence in every aspect of your life. And as you do–as you seek Him, you will begin to see Him in every aspect of your life. You will see Him making those paths straight before you. You will see Him making streams in the desert. You will see Him making ways where there seemed to be no way. You will see Him. You will know Him. You will trust Him. You will acknowledge Him. And He will direct your paths.
To Have a Heart Like His 