Proverbs 3:5-6 provides a good reminder of lining up with God and not relying on ourselves or human wisdom.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
What Lining Up with God Means
If we break down the above verses, we can better grasp what’s required to align with God.
1) Trust in the Lord.
We need to see God for the Great God He is. We’re not going to line up with someone we don’t hold to be true, right, and worthy of following.
2) Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
We can’t be on again and off again in our pursuit and expect to remain in alignment with Him. God is a worthy standard to follow all of the time and in every way. Consequently, there isn’t any area to withhold our trust in Him. He won’t let us down so we’re safe to wholeheartedly pursue His ways.
3) Lean not on your own understanding.
We trust Him as One with unlimited understanding, who is always right. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isa. 55:9) so it’s foolish to “be wise in your own eyes” (Prov. 3:7). We have limited understanding and we can be wrong.
4) In all your ways submit to him.
Even when we don’t understand God’s ways, we still align with Him. We don’t pick and choose which of His ways to follow.
Why Alignment with God Matters
To know why it’s important to line up with God, look at the results in Proverbs 3:6-8.
1) He will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:6)
We have sure footing.
2) This will bring health to your body … (Prov. 3:8)
We find strength and stability.
3) This will bring … nourishment to your bones. (Prov. 3:8)
We have the sustenance needed to remain strong.
We’ve considered what it means to line up with God and why it matters. Look at the next post for how to come into alignment with Him.