THURSDAY JANUARY 25, 2018 SMARTER THAN GOD TEXT: PROVERBS 3:1-12

THURSDAY JANUARY 25, 2018

SMARTER THAN GOD

TEXT: PROVERBS 3:1-12

KEY VERSE: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5)

Those who understands the illusory fixation of teenage tendencies will be amused by the message of a poster that reads: "Attention Teenagers - if you are tired of being hassled by unreasonable parents, now is the time for action! Leave home and pave your own way while you still know everything!" Generally, youth comes with inexperience. But it often proves difficult to convince a youth that his choice is wrong.

Many people, including Christians, seem to be hunted by the same illusory teenage tendency. They go about with I-know-what-is-right-for-me attitude. But experience shows that even the wisest of us makes poor and, sometimes, detrimental choices. This is because as humans, we are not all-knowing. Only God is.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" does not imply that we should negate our reasoning faculty and act irrationally. Rather, we are called to totally place our confidence in God. This entails implicitly obeying Him, having reverential fear of Him, cherishing His word, bringing Him into the picture in everything we do, giving due portion of what we have to His service and gladly submitting to His discipline. As we walk through the labyrinth of life, leaning on our limited understanding is irrational and detrimental.

Many Christians tend to "use" God as a last option. In major and minor decisions that they take, they completely rely on their imperfect understanding. God is only brought in when their own choices drive them to their wit's end.

It always pays to trust God in choice of marriage partner, career, investment, ministry and a host of other issues. God never fails to guide those who put their trust in Him.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It goes well when God holds our hands and not that we hold His.
COVER to COVER: GENESIS 38-40.

PONDER:
1. Your appointed age on earth is not constant. You can get additions (and of course subtractions) v2. What is the secret of additions (and of course subtractions)? v1
2. You want to have favour with men? Check the secret v3.
3. You want divine guidance and leadings without tears? Check v5,6 for the secret.
4. You want constant sound health? v8. Verse 7 gives the secret.
5. Secret of prosperity and wealth is given in v9,10.
6. You want to be sure He loves you and you are still His child? Then you must still be freshly receiving correction and rebuke from Him and His servants v11,12.

HYMN: I know Who Holds Tomorrow

1. I don't know about tomorrow
I just live for day to day
I don't borrow from the sunshine
For it's skies may turn to gray
I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him
For He knows what lies ahead

Chorus Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

2. Ev'ry step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined
There the sun is always shining
There no tear will dim the eye
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky
Chorus

3. I don't know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me
And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood
Chorus

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, let the blood of Jesus cancels anything that I might have done to warrant a shortened life. Add to my years to your glory.
2. I hereby put my confidence and trust in you alone. I refuse to trust in my wisdom henceforth. Let your guidance continually be loud in my life.
3. Lord, give me the right attitude of teachability, humility, submission and obedience when I am rebuked through your word or your servants.
4. I hereby ask for abundant prosperity in the health, spiritual life and business of your children in the church.