PROVERBS 3:5-12

5) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;

6) think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

7) Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8) This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.

9) Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest;

10) then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11) Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe His discipline;

12) for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in.” CSB

OBSERVATION: Am I thinking about the Lord? Is He really the center of my entire life? Do I consider Him in every step I take? Do I put Him first in everything I do?

One of the reasons I love reading different translations of the Bible each year is the freshness of perspective that it brings to a very familiar text. I don’t know how many times I have read these verses in Proverbs chapter three, but as I read them today the one thing that jumped off the page was this statement,

• “Think about Him in all your ways…”

The traditional way that I have memorized this statement is – “In all your ways acknowledge Him.” Yet, what a refreshing restatement of this truth in the above statement – “Think about Him in all your ways.” That got me thinking – about my thinking! How much time do I spend thinking about Him, pondering His lovingkindness, considering His faithfulness, meditating upon His truth?

Solomon calls us to this focus and perspective in Proverbs 3:5.

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.”

How do we rely on our own understanding? I believe it is when we stop thinking about Him and begin filling our thoughts with everything else. We think about our weakness and forget to think about His strength. We think about our rights and forget to think about His cross. Thinking about Him in all our ways will change everything!

1. It will help us find His will for our lives!

• “Think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”

2. It will keep us from temptation and falling prey to sin!

• “Don’t consider yourself to be wise (think about Him!); fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”

3. It will open up His provision of healing, spiritually, emotionally, and physically!

• “(Think about Him!) This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.”

4. It will open up the windows of heaven for our daily bread and God’s overflowing blessings!

• “Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest (think about Him!); then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

5. It will give us the perspective we need when we are going through a difficult trial or a time of testing and refining from the Lord!

• “Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe His discipline (instead – think about Him!); for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in.”

In every thing, in every way, in every opportunity – our call is to think about Him! Watch how fast the enemy flees when you begin to think about Him. Watch how fast your spirit is renewed when you begin to think about Him. Watch how fast your priorities are changed when you begin to think about Him.

And it really is not hard to do. As I daily abide in the Word of God I am thinking about Him. As I run to Him in sincere repentance and prayer I am thinking about Him. As I lift my voice in worship and praise I am thinking about Him. And, as I share His love with others each day I am thinking about Him!

• “Think about Him in all your ways…”

Now that is a good thought!

In Jesus Name!