Welcome to “Friday Evening.” This Sunday is Mother's Day. Honor a mother you love this week, and every week.

 

“All Your Heart…All You Do”

Tom Barnard

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”

(Proverbs 3:5, 6 NLT)

 

 

“Some” cannot be found in this chapter, except for the word “someone” that appears in verse 30. “All” is used or implied throughout the 35 verses of the chapter. God wants all your heart, and he wants to impact all you do. He wants your loyalty, and he wants your obedience. Although he wants you to seek understanding, insight, and wisdom (Proverbs 2), he wants you to trust in his, not yours. In verse 7 he says, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil.” Commenting on these verses John Maxwell says, “Even good wisdom divorced from God can become a snare.” (Maxwell Leadership Bible).

 

We live in a “non-absolute,” relative world—a world where “all” means “some” and “always” means “occasionally.” But when the writer of Proverbs recorded the words in his beloved book, he was inspired to use absolutes to describe God’s intentions about his children. And his promise is absolute as well. If you trust God completely and seek his will in matters big and small, “he will direct your paths.”

 

Do you remember the words of the old gospel song by Homer Grimes?

 

What should I give Thee, Master—Thou who didst die for me?

Shall I give less of what I possess, Or shall I give all to Thee?

Jesus, my Lord and Saviour; Thou has giv’n all for me.

Thou didst leave thy home above to die on Calvary.

What should I give Thee Master—Thou has giv’n all for me?

Not just a part, or half of my heart—I will give all to Thee.

 

Heavenly Father, the world teaches us to trust in our own wisdom and knowledge when we make decisions. The world teaches us to be self-actualized and self-directed. Your Word teaches us to trust in you and seek your will in all we do. I confess that I haven’t always done a very good job of trusting you or seeking your will in everything I do. It is so easy to trust myself, but when I have done that, I often come up short of finding the best way. Today, Lord, I renew my pledge to trust and seek your will. I accept your promise that you will direct my path. In your Son’s Name I pray. Amen.