With All Your Heart

It has been a long time since I have written a post for my blog.  My wife has been very ill and that has kept me busy much of the past six or seven weeks.  Pat spent much of January and part of February in the hospital, but she is home now and on the mend.  It will take some time, but I know that God is restoring her mind, body, and spirit.

This morning I was going through email and read one that came from a group that I pray for every week.  I read the request and prayed for the group that the Lord might work mighty things in their mission but the scripture that was referenced at the beginning of the email stuck with me.   The Passage was Proverbs 3:5.

Proverbs 3:5

I read that passage verse and I could not help but think of this last six or seven weeks.  It is a very simple verse, but it carries with it such power.

Proverbs 3:5(ESV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

I read it repeatedly.  Every time I did, I thought about Pat and the hospital and the issues regarding her health and whether I was living this passage or was I getting in God’s way by trying to take control of the situation.  I prayed a bit more over this verse and pondered my attitude and I went to my bible to get the context of the passage in the email.

Proverbs3:5-8

I opened my Bible and I found that verses 5 thru 8 were highlighted.  So, I read through the passage.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV Strong’s)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

⁸ It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.

As I read these passages, they reminded me again of my actions in the hospital and at home.

Reflection

As I pondered this passage and Pat’s progress and my own faithfulness I was overwhelmed by the past weeks.  God has done amazing things in healing the place where her surgery took place and He is doing great things with her other issues as well even though at times I wavered through all of this.

I know that I spoke these words to everyone that I talked to in the hospital and out, but at times I wavered.

There was a point that the doctors were uncertain as to what was wrong with her.  In the middle of that I faltered.  I put on the good face, but there were times that I fell back on my own understanding rather than trusting in God.  When I would falter I kept falling back on this verse in Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV)

⁶ 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, ⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

But even then I would find myself faltering.  It was a tough night and the adversary tried everything to capitalize on this weakness to make me feel more isolated.  But the Lord did not leave me, even if my vision was a bit clouded by my circumstances.

Ecclesiastes 4

In the middle of this dark day the Holy Spirit reminded me of a passage that I needed to reach out.  It was important not to be alone.  He brought this passage to me.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

As soon as the Lord pulled my eyes away from my wife’s circumstances to His Words of council I reached out to a brother from my church and just talked over things with him.  Once we began to speak with one another the load became lighter.  My fears about Pat’s circumstances faded and my trust in the Lord grew stronger.  My faith was strengthened.

Yes, I still had my moments that night and into the morning, but that morning my fears were abated by the test results.

I could do nothing but give thanks to God for not only the test results, but for His counsel and for the brother with whom he connected me.

Closing Thoughts

As I look back on this past six or seven weeks, I have to say that I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father.  Of course, I am thankful for the healing I see in Pat, but I am also thankful for the wonder of His counsel and faithfulness.  I know that I fall short in honoring Him every day, but He has NEVER left my side.  I look back at the first few verses of Proverbs 3 and am overwhelmed by the sound counsel of every word.

Proverbs 3:1-8 (ESV Strong’s)

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

² for length of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.

³ Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

⁸ It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.

These eight simple verses are so powerful, but like everything else in God’s Word, they are easy to overlook or forget.  That is why verse three is so important.  All through the Word of God, He reminds us of the importance of having an intimate understanding of His Word.  It is part of our armor, (Ephesians 6:10-20).  It is also important to be a part of the body… the church so that when you falter or struggle you are not alone.  Our adversary longs to find us weak and alone.

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

We need to be sober-minded and, on our guard, and we are best when we draw near as a flock to their shepherd.

Prayer

Father, thank you for your Word.  Thank You for the family of believers that you have placed around us to call on when we are weak and struggle, and to support when they might need our support.  Thank you for the wisdom that you share with us freely if we simply seek it out.  To you, God be all the Glory! All this I pray in Jesus name.  Amen.