Every little (and big) thing ....

When Caroline was three years old we had a little scripture memory game.  It went like this …. she learned a verse, she won a few dollars.  She was happy to get money and we were happy for her to be memorizing Scripture.  One of the very first verses she learned was Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not in your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

It has always been one of my moms favorite verses and mine as well.  Caroline memorized it, got her prize and the next time we saw my mom she quoted it for her.  I think my mom might have given her a dollar too.  :)

Fast forward 14 years later.

Caroline received her volleyball letter jacket just before Christmas.  When I turned it over I saw that she had that same verse monogrammed under her name.

I’ve had lots of thoughts about seeing that verse on her letter jacket (and I know lots of people pick that particular verse), but it was special to me that she picked one of the very first verses she ever memorized.  I thought, how awesome is it for our children to write God’s word on their hearts and minds?!  You never know when they will use it or cling to it.

And as Caroline begins the process of looking for colleges, deciding what field she would like to study, etc. I’m glad that particular verse is written on her heart.

Because God does know the best path for her.  He has it all laid out … just for her.

This morning I was reading my devotional book “Jesus Calling” (if you don’t do a daily devotional, please, go get this book … or let me give it to you) … and today the author wrote about “not leaning on our own understanding”.

It said (as if God were speaking)  … “relying on your own understanding will weigh you down.  Trust me absolutely and I will make your paths straight”.

I think I always thought not “leaning on my own understanding” was just not doing whatever I thought was right.  But after reading this I think it’s not completely trusting in his path … or making our own path … or showing Him the path we want to travel.   And sadly, that is often how I live.  Thinking I need to figure things out or make a plan or find a way instead of just saying … “OK Lord … keep me on your path … direct me on your path … and don’t let me pull all my luggage along.  Don’t let me carry the baggage of “what I think is supposed to happen or should happen” because it will WEIGH YOU DOWN.

I need to trust Him absolutely.

I don’t want to be weighed down by my own plan.

One of my friends is dealing with news of cancer.  She has lots of appointments scheduled and will need to make lots of decisions.  The only thing I really know to pray is for direction for her.  That he will make her paths straight.

Because leaning on her own understanding will weigh her down.  She would tell you that herself if she was writing this blog.  I’m sure of it.

The last few weeks I’ve been trying to figure something out for Jacob that he wants to do.  I wanted it to work out for him because he, so badly, wanted it to work out.

It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.  And it’s a bummer.

Trying to figure it out has weighed me down.  Trying to make it happen is heavy luggage.  And when it doesn’t you kind of want to “lift you eyes up” and say … “really?!?”.

But that would be leaning on my own understanding.

And not trusting.

The Lord knows exactly where Jacob is supposed to be and what he’s supposed to be doing.  And I don’t want to get in the way of whatever that is supposed to be.

I know … I KNOW.  Easier said than done.

Which leads me back to the line in that verse that says …. “in all thy ways acknowledge Him” … and “He WILL direct your paths”.

That’s it … acknowledge Him in everything.

Every little thing.  Every big thing.

Everything.

Trust him.

In every little thing.  Every big thing.

Everything.

Acknowledge Him.

In all ways.

In everything.