A Fresh Take on Familiar Scripture

In this Biblical Thinking UPGRADE, Dawn Wilson shares a favorite scripture passage with a fresh "take" on the verses.

Have you ever become so accustomed to a Bible verse that you no longer appreciate it's impact?

Long-time Christians are familiar with Proverbs 3:5-6. We see it emblazoned on t-shirts and painted on wall art. We're so used to seeing those verses, we don’t really take time to reflect on their richness.

My dad wrote those verses in the front of my Bible when I went off to college. It was the only time I remember him sharing any scripture with me. When I joined a revival team two years later and became more aware of deeper spiritual truth, I added verses 7-8 to my understanding.

That passage remains with me after more than forty years, giving me direction and hope.

In these days when I’m dealing with a cancer diagnosis, I've returned for a "fresh take" on Proverbs 3:5-8. Here's what the Lord is teaching me.

1. My Sovereign God Is Trustworthy.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart….” (verse 5a, NKJV).

Who is this One we’re to trust? He is the sovereign God who sees, knows and delights in us. He is faithful, trustworthy.

We can trust His love, wisdom, presence, power, provision and so much more—with all our heart. We’re not to be double-minded and unstable; we’re to rely confidently on the Lord.

Circumstances may cause us to struggle, but we’re not to live by our emotions. We’re to trust our faithful God and hold fast to His faithful Word (2 Timothy 2:13).  

2. My Understanding Is Limited.

“And lean not on your own understanding” (verse 5b).

Humans have limited understanding, limited discernment. It’s not wise to depend on our own understanding or try to figure out everything on our own. In other words, don’t put your stock in your own understanding, insight, judgment, or strategies. Why?

God’s thoughts ways are higher and better—beyond us (Isaiah 55:8-9). There are things we may not know about our situation or why we suffer. That’s why we’re to seek the wisdom from above and the mind of Christ.

If we want a reputation for good judgment and common sense, we’ll want to saturate our mind and heart with scripture (Proverbs 4:5-15; Colossians 3:16; Philippians 4:8-9). We’ll store up His Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11; Joshua 1:8) and walk in the Spirit, obedient to the Word (Galatians 5:16).

3. God’s Plan Is Always Best.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him…” (verse 6a).

Acknowledging God means submitting to Him. We know, recognize and then submit to God and His will. We listen for God’s voice and seek His will so we can submit to it.

Acknowledging Him also means we give Him the credit for everything we accomplish. We adore Him, lift Him up and magnify His name (Psalm 34:3). We make Him “bigger” in others’ lives through our testimony.

In everything, every day, we look for ways to acknowledge His work in our life. Our hope in God grows, and we praise Him more and more.

In acknowledging God knows best, we can be at peace.

We stop trying to control everything, knowing God’s counsel and plan are firm and for our good (Psalm 33:11).

4. God Can Keep Me on Track.

“And He shall direct your paths” (verse 6b).

In love, God wants to direct our path (Psalm 32:8). He wants to keep us on track. But we must pay attention to and submit to His will if we want His guidance (Proverbs 1:5).

God desires to make our way straight and smooth, establishing our steps (Proverbs 16:9), giving us light (Psalm 119:105), and keeping us from falling into destruction. Sometimes He removes obstacles that block our way (Psalm 37:23-24)—He can clear the road so we can faithfully follow Him. He will show us what path to take, and enable us to make wise, godly choices.

We experience God’s guidance as we pursue Him in His Word, but also as we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13). We pray for God to teach us (Psalm 25:4-5). We learn to wait on His timing and are ready to take action at His command.

Our path might look different from others’ paths.

God knows the best path for us to please Him (and not be people-pleasers) so we can grow spiritually and love and serve others. As we put Him first, He will crown our efforts with success. He will reward faithfulness.

5. Human Wisdom Can Lead to Pride.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes” (verse 7a).

Pride stands in opposition to humility (Psalm 138:6; Matthew 23:12). Pride says (or acts like), “I know better than God.” The proud, conceited heart is impressed with its own knowledge and insights.

We can’t assume we know it all. As fallen, sinful creatures—with hearts deceived by sin (Jeremiah 17:9)—it’s foolish to think we can decide on our own what is right and what is wrong. (That’s why our culture is in trouble!)

As Christians, we must never operate independently of our Creator God or His Word.

God guides and instructs the humble and obedient (Psalm 25:9-10; 32:8). To be wise, become a life-long learner of the sure and reliable Word of God, not of the failing philosophies of the world. Ask God for His wisdom (James 1:5-8).

6. I Must Fear God and Turn from Evil.

“Fear the LORD and depart from evil” (verse 7b).

Wisdom comes from God, and the beginning of our wisdom is to fear the Lord (Proverbs 2:6; 9:10). Fearing the Lord involves living in reverent awe of Him and obeying Him.

As we fear God, we will begin to know His heart. We will love what He loves and hate what He hates. We will learn to shun evil and turn toward righteousness.

In other words, let’s run to God and run from evil!

7. Strength Comes When I Trust and Obey.

“It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones” (verse 8).

This has become the most exciting “fresh take” in my recent experience.

I cannot do much to change my medical prognosis except to follow the doctor’s orders, but I can do much to allow the Lord to change my heart as I trust Him and obey His direction.

Another translation of verse 8 says a healthy fear of the Lord will bring “health” to my body and “nourishment” to my bones.

This renewed health and vitality in my inner self will come when I am free from the strain of a sinful life.

I will feel stronger at my core as the Lord adds sweet blessing and refreshment to my life (Isaiah 40:31; 2 Corinthians 4:16).

There are many rich truths in this short section of scripture that can guide the Christian's life.

In summary:

• My sovereign God is trustworthy—I can confidently trust Him.
• My understanding is limited—I must seek wisdom from above.
• God’s plan is always best—I can safely surrender to His will.
• God can keep me on track—He’ll enable me to make wise choices.
• Human wisdom can lead to pride—Humility will help me depend on God’s wisdom.
• I must fear God and turn from evil—God wants to shows me His heart.
• Strength comes when I trust and obey—God can renew my health and vitality.

Can you see how these verses might apply in your own life circumstances? Where might you need a change of perspective?

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is a speaker and author, and the creator the blog, Upgrade with Dawn. She is a contracted researcher/reviewer for Revive Our Hearts, and a writer at Christianity.com (wiki posts) and Crosswalk.com. She and her husband Bob live in Southern California and have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Bessi at Pixabay.

What My Sick Dog Taught Me about Trust

Debbie W. Wilson is one of my heart sisters. We met on Facebook and we both desire to align our thoughts and behavior with the Word of God. But her Spiritual Life UPGRADE is especially dear to me, helping me to better receive God’s will at a difficult time in my own life.

“I felt like a traitor luring my standard poodle into my vet’s lab room,” Debbie said.

I (Dawn) so understand that. We’ve done that with our maltipoo, Roscoe. But it was for his good! I love how Debbie expresses this simple-but-profound truth.

Debbie continues . . .

I did it to save his life. But Max didn’t know that.

Did he think I was heartless to let the vet draw blood from his thin leg—again?

For months after we learned Max has Addison’s disease, the vet had to draw his blood to check his electrolyte and hormone levels.

One week, Max refused to go with the technician. So instead of handing her the leash, I followed her—and he followed me.

Max’s trust in me made me consider the conditions I’ve put on fully trusting God in painful situations. I’ve thought if only I knew the purpose of my pain then I’d be able to trust God better.

But was that true?

Imagine me explaining Max’s condition to him.

• I could read him the symptoms off the Internet.
• I could show him his lab reports.
• I could remind him how he almost died.

But would that help Max have his blood drawn?

I understand the treatment of Max’s illness better than he does. I know the pain of the needle is brief and the benefits are lasting. How much more does God understand my trials?

Sometimes God allows me to see the benefit of my pain. But some 'whys' remain unanswered.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says,

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (NIV).

The difference between my thoughts and my dog’s is so much less than the distance between God’s thoughts and mine.

If Max can’t understand why I have his blood drawn, do I think I can understand why God takes me through pain and loss?

But God has not left me without assurance.

He has promised:

• “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17 NIV).
• “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18 NIV).
• “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:3-5 NIV).

Life on this planet is a vapor. But how we live here affects our eternity.

Pain, loss, and confusion are opportunities to trust our Master.

The hurt is real, but if He allows it then we know it is to benefit us.

As God’s child I can’t shed a hair without God noticing.

When I see Max romp across the yard without a symptom of Addison’s, I thank God for blood tests and shots. I remember how sick he was without them.

He doesn’t understand the connection. He doesn’t need to. Max only needs to know that I take care of him.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31 NASB)

What pain or disappointment has God allowed to touch you? What would trusting Him look like for you?

Debbie W. Wilson aspires to connect people’s hearts to God and help them discover relevant faith. She is the author of Little Women, Big God and Give Yourself a Break. She and her husband Larry founded Lighthouse Ministries, a nonprofit counseling, coaching, and Bible teaching ministry. She enjoys exploring new places, reading a good mystery, and laughing with her two standard poodles. Share her journey to refreshing faith at debbieWwilson.com.

The photos with those two gorgeous poodles are from the author, Debbie.