“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight..." (Prov. 3:5-6 NIV)

We’re told to do three things

Most Christians, when asked, say they aren’t absolutely certain they are on the right path that God has for them. They worry that they may have made wrong choices along the way, throwing them off track. They wish they could know for sure that they are doing what God has created them to do. Because if this, they aren’t working confidently at what they presently do. This shouldn’t be so! In the the above passage we’re told to do three things. First, trust in the Lord with all your heart. Secondly, lean not on your own understanding. And thirdly, in all your ways, submit to Him. Then, God will make your paths straight. Also, understand that God wants to give you direction. That’s why He sent the Holy Spirit and why He has given you His written Word. 

God keeps His eye on you and will teach you the way you should go

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)

God sent the Holy Spirit guide you

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)

God’s Word lights your feet and path 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

Therefore…

“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” (Psalm 25:9 ESV)

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’”. (John 8:12 ESV)

“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.” (Psalm 147:4 ESV)

Too many to count

When you look up at the stars, it’s difficult to imagine how many there are (too many to count), how big they are (our sun is tiny compared to many others), and how far away they are (no one knows for sure, just guesses on most), yet God made them and has given them all names! God is bigger and greater than anyone can imagine, yet He knows the number of hairs on your head! And, He cares about you!

“He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name.” (Amos 5:8 ESV)

The heaven are massive, yet God is mindful of you!

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalms 8:3-4 ESV)

They shall shine like stars

“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Dan. 12:3 ESV)

Therefore…

“Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.” (Isa. 49:26 ESV)

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thess. 5:18 KJV)

Look beyond your circumstances with thanksgiving to God 

The above passage says to “give thanks in every thing.”  This is hard, especially during difficult times or painful circumstances. But, it isn’t impossible. You just have to look beyond your circumstances and understand that God will provide for you somehow, beyond your present understanding. Job is an example of someone going through tremendous suffering, yet he remained faithful and praised God during his horrendous ordeal: “…Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’ In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:20-22)

Keep your problems in perspective

Your problems are temporary and God’s steadfast love for you is forever. 

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 196:1 ESV)

Let your request be known to God with thanksgiving  

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6 ESV)

“Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” (Psalm 295:1 ESV)

Don’t give up! Continue to watch with thanksgiving 

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2 ESV)

Therefore…

“I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” (Psalm 7:17 ESV)

“A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalms 100:1-5 ESV)

“That the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:17 ESV)

We are here for a specific purpose 

Acts, chapter 17, verses 26-27, tells us that we are all born at God’s chosen time in history, at exactly the right place, for a very specific purpose; which is to find Him. The passage also says that He is already very close to each one of us, right where we live! This is wonderful news! It means that, as His servants, we can each help others around us reach out and find Him, too. How do you do this? It’s not difficult. Just pay attention to what’s happening to those around you, pray for them, ask God to help you help them and then take advantage of opportunities to share Christ as God leads you in each situation. It’s like one beggar, showing another beggar, where to find free bread. 

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:26-27 ESV)

Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

Use your gift to serve one another

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…” (1 Peter 4:10 ESV) 

Therefore…

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10 NIV)

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel…” (Phil. 1:27 ESV)

“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.” (1 Tim. 4:14)

God gives gifts 

“Therefore it says, When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (Eph. 4:8)

God empowers gifts in everyone

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Cor. 4:4-6)

Gifts are distributed according to God’s will 

“It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Heb. 2:3-5)

Fan into flame the gift of God inside you

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim. 1:6-7)

Therefore…

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Rom. 12:6-8)

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11)

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Prov. 11:25 ESV)

When you generously give what you have to others in need, it enriches both you and the one you have given to

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 ESV)

“Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” (Prov. 22:9 ESV)

It pleases God!

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Heb. 13:16 ESV)

God loves a cheerful giver!

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7 ESV) 

Therefore…

“For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” (Deut. 15:11 ESV)

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matt. 25:40 ESV)

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” (Rev. 19:6 ESV)

Hallelujah defined: Praise you the Lord! A shout of joy, praise, or gratitude. 

Hallelujah… “Praise you the Lord!”

“Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” (Psalm 111:1 ESV)

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!” (Psalm 48:1 ESV)

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!” (Psalm 146:1 ESV)

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!” (Psalm  112:1 ESV)

Once more: “Amen! Hallelujah!”

“Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” (Rev. 18:3-4 )

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Cor. 1:27 NIV)

God made foolish the wisdom of the world

“Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Cor. 1:20)

God confounds the wise

“…who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense…” (Isa. 44:25)

The wise will be out to shame

“The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and snared. They have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom do they really have?” (Jer. 8:9)

Therefore…

“We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” (1 Cor. 2:12)

“For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” (1 Cor. 1:21 ESV)

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” (Psalm 103:2 ESV)

Give thanks in all circumstances

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18 ESV)

Give thanks always and for everything

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Eph. 5:20 ESV)

Give thanks for His steadfast love

“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:26 ESV)

Give thanks for He is good and steadfast

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?” (Psalm 106:1-2 ESV)