During a tour at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a New York City woman mentioned that she was raising a type of cactus in a pot on her apartment balcony. Another tourist asked her how she kept from watering it too much, because the cactus would die if over watered. “I subscribe to the Tucson newspaper,” replied the New Yorker. “Every time I read that it rained in the desert, I give my plant some water.”

Now that lady indeed went to the source of knowledge. She didn’t guess, or water haphazardly. She knew she could trust and be confident in the desert rainfall report. She didn’t rely on her own insight or understanding, but rather went to the source of accurate information.

There is a spiritual parallel here. Proverbs 3:4-5 assures us we can lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord, casting aside our own inadequate insight or understanding. If we do, he will prepare the life road ahead. I like the Amplified Bible translation where it says He will “make straight and plain our paths.”

In geography, a plain is a relatively flat land with no steep paths to traverse. In carpentry, a plane is a tool that shaves the roughness of wood to make it smooth. It removes the roughness and turns it into shavings.

When I read this passage from Proverbs, I can visualize my God with a plane in His hand out front of my every step smoothing the path and turning my steep climbs into shavings that I no longer have to deal with. He makes my pathways in life straight and level.

If I can just get myself and my own understanding out of the way, I can trust Him to walk with me in whatever roads lie ahead.

Questions: Are there any places in your life that you are trying to handle on your own? How can you place your trust in God instead?

Do you need to feel God’s presence in your life today? Let us know how we can pray for you

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith.” says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Do you look at the condition of the world and wonder what will happen to it? Will it continue, or will it simply self-destruct?

We don’t need to be fearful about the future because God is the Almighty. He has made it known that He began the story of mankind and He alone will bring it to a close. The book of Revelation is sprinkled with titles for God that affirms His control of the universe. God is declared the Alpha and the Omega (1:8, 21:6, 22:13). He is called the First and the Last (1:17, 2:8, 22:13). He is heralded as the Beginning and the End (21:6, 22:13).

These words speak of God’s power. Regardless of how things appear, God is in control. This applies to each individual life, as well as to the world at large.

Not only is God the One who began and will end this world, He is the starter and finisher of our belief in Him. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith.” To perfect something means to complete it, or to bring it to a flawless conclusion. You see, God Himself planted the seed of faith in your heart. He will not leave you alone to make that faith grow. He will complete your faith.

The Alpha and the Omega is at work in your life. He pursued you; He softened your heart; He opened your eyes to the truth of the gospel. He who is the First and the Last continues to draw you and to strengthen your faith as you seek Him. Fix your eyes on Jesus and don’t be afraid.

We praise You, God of the Universe. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13). Help us to trust that You are in control. Help us not to be afraid, but to keep our focus on Jesus. Amen.

Questions: How does knowing that God is the Alpha and the Omega affect your life? What do you do to remind yourself that God is in control?

Are you consumed by worry? Try our online study “What Do You Fear?”

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”(Matthew 6:27a)

There I was, changing positions in my seat from time to time. The four-hour layover in Chicago on my way home from New York was long, really long. But, what can I say? When you can’t see, the ears work overtime. The buzz from the crowd at the gate got louder. Then conversations near me were sometimes entertaining.

“Okay, Dad,” a man said to my right, “Your wheelchair is locked. You’re not going anywhere. We’re on time for the flight.” His voice was tender and soft. “But you can worry if that will make you feel better.”

I smiled inside. I wondered if my sons would care for me like that when I get old. But the “you can worry if that will make you feel better” was a message for me. No doubt, God was probably saying, “Hey chica, I’m talking to you.”

He knows me well. And He knows you too. As you read these lines, in the dark corners of your heart, you’re worrying. Even though God said, repeated and insisted we shouldn’t, we’re still worrying. We all do that. While we’re sitting in the wheelchair of life, waiting for the next flight to bring our dreams to reality, we’re sipping from the hot cup of worry. So here’s the question we need to answer:

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we drink? or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:27-31)

Father, I confess to my faith, little, and wavering. I did fret about my unmet goals, dreams still being dreamed, and success still on hold. But Lord, I choose to live clothed by the splendor of your grace, savoring the richness of your provision, constant and timely. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions: Does the situation you worry about have eternal consequences? When does worry bring positive results? How can changing your focus decrease worry from your life?

Do you want to dig deeper into your love for God? Try our life lesson “Developing a Heart of Worship”

“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, NKJV)

In movies of the American Old West, it is common to see the rough and ready cowboy ambling down a wooden sidewalk, tipping his broad brimmed hat to passing ladies. The hat isn’t really lifted off his head, just slightly tilted as a show of respect, an acknowledgement. No relationship is initiated, nor is one intended.

It is this display of somewhat superficial acknowledgement that we often exhibit in our relationship with God. We “tip our hat to Him”each morning, before meals and at the end of the day. We mentally recognize His ?presence and promises, but we seldom stop long enough to “look full in His wonderful face.”

While the basic meaning of the word acknowledge as used in the book of Proverbs is “to see or know”, within the word lies the meaning of comprehension, perception and understanding. Another translator equates this with the word submission.

Am I sometimes guilty of passing God on the sidewalks of my life, giving mental assent to Him, but not truly submitting the circumstances of that moment into His care? Are my table prayers perfunctory instead of laced with heartfelt gratitude? Do I tip my spiritual hat to God instead of graciously recognizing His sovereignty and love? I ask for His direction; now I must grow in submission.

Questions: Are you spending enough quality time with God? How can you make room in your schedule for more time with God?

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.” Luke 11:21-22

Why did Peter deny Jesus? He confidently declared “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Matthew 26:35) But only a few short hours later, Peter did the exact opposite. He denied he knew Jesus three times, just as Jesus predicted. We don’t have to imagine Peter’s sorrow. We’re told plainly that afterwards “he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75)

But this doesn’t answer the question of why Peter denied knowing Him. Part of it was fear: Fear of losing his reputation by being associated with a man accused of being a criminal. Fear of his responsibilities. Fear, perhaps, for his own life. But another reason that Peter ended up denying knowing His Lord is because he was away from Him.

Peter lost sight of his Lord. It wasn’t until “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter” (Luke 22:61) that Peter came back to his senses and realized what he had done. After losing sight of Jesus, Peter had been trying to do things on his own strength. Rather than trusting God, he was trusting in himself.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Peter himself explains the imminent danger of trying to do everything ourselves God: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) The apostle James advises us: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:7-8) While even the strongest of men & women are no match for Satan’s temptations on our own, with God we have nothing to fear.

We can stay near to God by reading His Word, by speaking and listening to Him in prayer, and by living in community with His sons and daughters. Stay near to God, and you will never be overwhelmed.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Question: What is the danger of not staying near God? How does staying near God protect us from danger?

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Tell your story in a concise and creative way that will impact your friends, family and online social networks.

There are wounds in life cut so deeply that they seem to leave irreparable damage. In an ironic way, we know that if these wounds are not dealt with they will continue a lifetime of destruction within us. It is a very difficult thing to get a handle on these terrible pains and to allow healing to begin to take place. This is difficult but possible if we focus on the power and strength that is available to us. Take this study to learn how to cope with pain and disappointment.

Fear and anxiety can grip in a way that nothing else can. It has the ability to hold you captive in your home, to hinder your relationships and to control everything you do with a blanket of fear. These anxieties are real, but can be overcome. Take this study to learn ways to cope with gripping fears in your life.

Trusting God is easy when things are going well and we can see our way.  Trusting God when the path is obscured and we cannot clearly see ahead is more challenging.

There is a prayer in the Bible prayed by David, it’s a prayer you and I can pray for ourselves when our way is obscured with the uncertainty of our lives. Mark it in your Bible and make it the prayer of your heart whenever doubt and fear want to crowd out your faith.

“Show me Your ways, O Lord. Teach me Your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me for You are my God and my Savior and my hope is in You all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5)

Whenever your faith wants to waiver, read this prayer and refresh your confidence in the Lord who will lead you and guide you and teach you because He is your God and Savior and your hope all the day long!

God bless you as you place your trust in our trustworthy God … all day long!

Father God,
Thank you that You, the God of Hope, are my certainty in uncertain times. I lean on You today! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Question: How can you remind yourself about this Psalm, and/or seek to memorize it so you can recite it as needed?

About this Author: Gail Rodgers

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.” Luke 11:21-22

Why did Peter deny Jesus? He confidently declared “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Matthew 26:35) But only a few short hours later, Peter did the exact opposite. He denied he knew Jesus three times, just as Jesus predicted. We don’t have to imagine Peter’s sorrow: We’re told plainly that afterwards “he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75)

But this doesn’t answer the question of why Peter denied knowing Him. Part of it was fear: Fear of losing his reputation by being associated with a man accused of being a criminal. Fear of his responsibilities. Fear, perhaps, for his own life. But another reason that Peter ended up denying knowing His Lord is because he was away from Him.

Peter lost sight of his Lord. It wasn’t until “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter” (Luke 22:61) that Peter came back to his senses and realized what he had done. After losing sight of Jesus, Peter had been trying to do things on his own strength. Rather than trusting God, he was trusting in himself.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Peter himself explains the immanent danger of trying to do everything ourselves God: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) The apostle James advises us: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:7-8) While even the strongest of men & women are no match for Satan’s temptations on our own, with God we have nothing to fear.

We can stay near to God by reading His Word, by speaking and listening to Him in prayer, and by living in community with His sons and daughters. Stay near to God, and you will never be overwhelmed.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Question: What is the danger of not staying near God? How does staying near God protect us from danger?

About this Author: Darren Hewer