Here we are, standing on tiptoe, gazing at a fresh calendar full of possibilities. Clever you, choosing the perfect Proverb to end one year and begin the next.
It’s actually two verses with one powerful message. Diana and her daughter both count this passage as their favorite, which has “forged a special bond” between them. Brenda has these verses on her desk at work and on her shower curtain at home (perhaps like this one or this one or this one), to keep her spiritually on track each day.
Even if you know these verses by heart, take a fresh look and see what God might be saying to you, as together we celebrate a life-changing year in His Word.
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. Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart… Proverbs 3:5
Trust. It’s the first thing a child learns. And the first thing a child of God learns, as we discover how to “lean on, trust in, and be confident” (AMP) in Him.
In order to “place your trust” (VOICE) in God, you must first lift something off your own shoulders—the need for control, the need to have all the answers—and deposit those things into His loving hands.
Then, you must let go.
In Hebrew, kol means “all.” Not some, not most, but all. Holding back nothing, making no demands, we must “completely” (ERV) release our deep need to be in charge.
The Lord knows how hard this is for us, and what it will cost us to trust Him. The sacrifice of self. The putting aside of pride. The laying down of arms.
No more fighting Him. No more insisting on having our own way. As if we knew best. As if.
…and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
It’s helpful to have something to lean on. A rail when we climb steps. The back of a chair when we have to pull on a shoe.
But “lean not” isn’t asking us to avoid doing a physical thing. It means “don’t depend” (ERV) and “do not rely” (AMP) on that which is undependable and unreliable.
The Hebrew word, shaan, means “to lean, to support oneself.” When you think about it, leaning on or supporting yourself is nigh to impossible. Where would you put your hand? Where would you rest your weight?
The One who loves us knows we can’t stand on our own. Depend wholly on ourselves? Go through life without Him? We’re simply not built to do that.
Whether you call it “insight” (AMP) or “intelligence” (CEB) or “judgment” (CEV), our own understanding is not to be trusted. “What you think you know” (GNT) isn’t enough to carry you through.
Our flawed thinking will invariably lead us downward rather than upward. The Lord who formed our gray matter and shaped our intellect cautions us, “Never depend upon your own ideas and inventions” (VOICE), and whatever you do, “don’t try to figure out everything on your own” (MSG).
Christina, who also chose this verse, realized, “My own understanding is often very limited and faulty. I have no recourse, save to trust in the Lord.”
So…can we live out our favorite Proverb? Can we let go and trust God?
…in all your ways submit to him,… Proverbs 3:6
There’s that word again. All. Utterly inclusive. Nothing left out. “Everything you do” (GNT) pretty much covers it.
In Hebrew, yada means “to know”—a different idea of “submit” altogether. We are to care more about knowing the Lord than knowing ourselves. To “remember” (GNT), “acknowledge” (ASV), and “recognize” (AMP) Him. To “think about what he wants” (ERV), and discover everything we can about His character, His attributes, His nature.
This is what God is waiting for us to grasp:
If you knew Me, you would trust Me.
…and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6
No maybe here. A promise. A guarantee. “He’s the one” (MSG)
The truth, beloved? God is in control whether we allow Him to be or not. We do not make Him Lord. He is Lord. The moment we accept that reality, the very second we bend our hearts and knees to His power and might, we find our loving God is already blessing us, already taking us by the hand, already leading us in the right direction.
Our paths aren’t meant to be straight in a literal sense, like straight lines. After all, it’s the unexpected curves, the bends in the road, the surprises along the way that keep us on our toes and make the whole trip more fun.
God promises He will “help you go the right way” (ERV)—which is His way. That’s the only way you want to walk. Not because you aren’t smart enough to chart your own course, but because you’re smart enough to know His course is the best one for you.
He will “guide you on the right paths” (HCSB) and “keep you on track” (MSG), no matter how many twists and turns you travel between here and heaven.
Lord, I want to trust You in all things, not just some things. Help me learn from You. Help me lean on You. Help me let go of my stubborn need to control. Help me understand that loving You with all my heart means trusting You with all I was and am and will be. Lord, please carry me across the threshold of a new year, safely in Your arms.
Now it’s your turn
- Consider these four New Year’s resolutions from Proverbs 3:5-6. Which one would be the easiest for you to keep? And which one the hardest?
Trust His love.
Follow His lead.
Accept His will.
Embrace His peace.
Please share your thoughts by clicking Post a Comment below. Your honesty and openness are a blessing to us all.
At the stroke of midnight New Year’s Eve, I chose 10 winners at random from all our December comments and gave away 5 silvery necklaces from Jessica Ely Jewelry and 5 fine art prints from StudioJRU, each one featuring our #1 favorite from Proverbs. Congrats to Fran, Edie, Carol, Linda, Jean, Deni, Penelope, Carol, Debbie, and Sharon. I love these beauties and hope you will too!
Meanwhile, your Printable of Proverbs 3:5-6 awaits you, as do all Your 50 Favorite Proverbs on Pinterest. Love seeing them all in one place.
What’s next?
So, I had this plan for our 2015 study, thinking we’d unpack all the wonderful things you are in Christ. “You are adopted,” “You are beautiful,” “You are created”…you get the idea.
Then I prayed about it. And the Lord said, “No. Show them Who I am.” Even now, my heart beats faster, remembering that moment.
The truth is, being told that we are loved and protected and forgiven is only meaningful if we fully understand the One who loves, protects, and forgives. That’s why we’ll spend the first half of 2015 celebrating the many reasons He Is Worthy of Our Praise.
I know you’re super-busy, so my posts will be half this long (promise!) and truly encouraging, as we praise the Lord for “His Grace,” “His Kindness,” “His Mercy,” “His Patience,” “His Strength,” “His Love”…oh, my. Is it January 7th yet?
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. Psalm 145:3
Happy New Year!
Your grateful sister, Liz
@LizCurtisHiggs #50Proverbs
Click on my pic to see my 2015 speaking calendar.
P.S. My 2015 resolution? For a Happy Year, be made New: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This is really tough–all four of the resolutions seem to be different sides of the same thing (like a square). As I ponder this, I think that trusting His love is both the easiest and the hardest. He has given so many promises & reminders of His love that it should be easy to trust it, although like the ancient children of Israel how quickly I forget and/or turn a blind eye (or attitude or action, etc.) which makes this difficult. I am so prone to effectively try to earn His love but by not believing what He has said, I basically call Him a liar and obviously am not trusting!
These are great verses. Whenever I have truly trusted God, usually when I am at my wits end, and let go of a situation I have been awed and blessed by the outcome. So much time and energy could be saved if I could trust at all times and in all situations. It is very freeing when I acknowledge and accept that HE not me is in control. Liz thanks for this series.
It is easier for me to follow where he leads. I had an incredible opportunity to do just that in October when I went on my first missions trip for 15 days. You would think that trust would make it easier to follow, but trusting is still hard for me even though he has proven himself MANY, MANY times. You would think I would get it, wouldn’t you!?
How great that this is the verse to end this wonderful studythat has been such an encouragement to me.the Lord brought this verse to mind early in the day yesterday, for me to meditate on, and then I see it again this morning in your study. He is indeed too wonderful :)) looking forward to next years sudy with you, and thank you so much for all you do to make Him known !
Trust His love. I CAN trust because He DOES love me!
Follow His lead. I CAN follow because He IS leading me!
Accept His will. I CAN accept His will because He IS willing to help me to…
Embrace His peace. I CAN embrace His peace because He IS the Prince of Peace!
All four are easy to follow and hard to follow from different points in time. His peace would be so welcomed but at times I fight it. Following His lead at times is so easy and yet at times I have a hard time, I get in my way. Trusting in His love is awesome and powerful, I need to stay out of His way and just follow. Thank you for this series, I shared a few with a friend who is going through somethings and she appreciated your words. Have a blessed new year.
This is one of my favorite verses, and one I am considering using as my verse for 2015. I struggle with all of these to some degree, but I think embracing His peace is the hardest for me. It sounds silly because if I am doing all the others the peace should come, right? But it is that nagging worry that robs me. So maybe trust is the hardest then? Oh, what a fallible human I am! 🙂
The statement, “If you knew Me, you would trust Me” struck a deep spot in my heart. I had just wrote in my journal that my prayer for this next year is to study God’s word like never before. I desire to know Him more intimately than ever before! The easiest resolution would be to Embrace His Peace, since I wouldn’t have to give up as much control. The other 3 are all hard, but in line with knowing Him better, the hardest will be to Trust His Love for me. I tend to believe it more for others instead of myself. It will mean for me to lean more on what I know of Him, release my grip and trust like never before in His Love♥. Liz thanks so much for an amazing year of Proverbs. Can’t wait to get started on a new study!
Trust His Love is the easiest to know and remember. He is LOVE. He has loved us since our bones were being knitted in our mothers’ wombs.
Accept His Will is the hardest … sometimes when trying to make a decision, I’m torn: this or that? Which? What is His Will? Where would He have me turn? Rather than turning, I will trust his love and go straight on the path he has laid for me.
Oh my goodness. Much of my professional career has been related to adoption and talking about the key relationship between parent and child. The terms bonding and attachment are often used in that context. The bonding is the parents’ role while attachment is what the child does. As so many verses show…God is the ULTIMATE parent. The bond He has with us is strong. When a child learns to trust, s/he is doing the process of attachment. This Proverb is a lovely illustration of that attachment cycle. I just pray that I respond to the bond He is offering and remember His great faithfulness so that my attachment is to Him alone.
Thank you Liz for this beautiful series. Can’t wait to see what 2015 brings us as we open His word together.
I am excited! This is the year of Jubilee. Isn’t that wonderful that God has set up a year for us to be FREE. I invited a group of 9 women over just the other day who had some kind of problems in their life’s.. I passed around punch and told the the Lev. Scripture and we toast Gods promise. Everyone got so excited about what God would do this year. Praises ring out for our Lords promises as your last scripture for this year. ii plan to make a banner to hang min my kitchen window that says just this important word TRUST. This is my word you gave me…perfect word for 2015! Thanks!
This has been my life verse for many years now. Memorizing it long ago, it has gotten my through some very difficult times in my life. He has never failed to keep His promises. I find myself repeating this verse almost every day of my life.
Do it MY way….I know that is what God wants of me. I’ve always had to be the leader or we never would take vacations, the chore list wouldn’t get organized, bills wouldn’t get paid. Sometimes my plans don’t work out out and I get frustrated or depressed. God has really been TALKING to me about this. I must ask Him what he thinks of the plan…read His Word to feel directed in HIS path. HE is not surprised when my life takes a unexpected turn. Lord, let me rest in Your direction…let my heart be at peace with Your intentions for my life. Please be the leader and I’ll really try to follow!
I have learned that trusting (as hard as it is sometimes) is much easier than explaining not trusting! Without Him I am nothing!
The hardest one has (forever it seems) been to trust His love, and this reflects most in my marriage. The fears I succumb to, the fears I allow to disable and distract me from fully embracing His love and his love have done the very thing the enemy has hoped: stolen, killed, and many days, destroyed. So, though this has been a point of failure for years for me, I am choosing to fight fear with His perfect love this year. Battles and wars are never easy, and who knows what I’ll look like come the end of 2015 (I’ve seen the videos and photos of soldiers returning from war), BUT come the end of 2015, I pray I can stand, kneel, or shout from the ground, I have overcome in His Name!
Now the easiest of the hard 😉 would be accepting His will. This does not go without some fight – usually – from me…me thinking my will has credibility because I surround it with “spiritual intentions.” In the end, whether that be a quick “Yes” to Him or an eventual relinquishment of my will for His, it is the easiest to accept. By His grace alone!
Embrace His Peace
Great culminating Proverb, as it seems that almost all the others have pointed in this same direction. I didn’t realize until this year how much I had been leaning on my own understanding! It is an absolute process of laying down my own will, my own plans, my own reasoning on a moment by moment basis that is taking me into the new year with great anticipation of what He will do in and through me. Thank you, Liz, for listening to Him and for sharing what He reveals to you. Many blessings!
I am coming late to the party but so excited for the new year! Your number one verse is posted in various ways all around my home so I feel like I belong here too. The New Years resolution hardest for me seems to be trust. I have had a long year of struggle with it as many areas of my life changed in February of last year. My head knows God is trustwotthy; my heart isn’t letting go completely. So this year my word for the year is trust!
Good Morning Sister Liz,
Happy New Year! A fresh start, like each day is a fresh day of his mercy.
I am a controler. I have to admit this. Therefore, accepting his will is the hardest for me. I want to, I give things over to him, but too often I take them back and proceed to TRY and make things work out myself. God lets me too. Then he loves me still and is so patient when I come running back to him crying because I have made another mess.
God is so gracious, and merciful.
This year I desire to allow him to live through me and make the right decisions.
The hardest is accepting His will when I know He is all powerful and loving and can do ANYTHING. But that is why I must embrace His peace. Without peace, nothing is right.
As always right perfect… I was just praying this morning about a situation that just keeps getting worse. Asking God over and over again what he wants me to do in it…then it came- quietly in my spirit that still sense that He was saying to me- salvation belongs to The Lord- this situation is ridiculously troublesome and heartbreaking all over the place but immediate peace came over me and I will continue to lay it at His feet and watch and wait for His salvation in it. Glory to Him.
Well, of course this scripture is #1. I have always loved these verses and thank you for unpacking it so beautifully! “If you knew Me, you would trust Me” resonates so with me. I keep hearing that little chorus in my heart, “The greatest thing, in ally my life, is knowing You”. And this is an ongoing process. I don’t know that trusting Him is the easiest, but it’s something I continue to work on… My greatest challenge is following His lead in every area of my life. Not always easy, but I am thankful for His grace and patience with me. Liz, I’ve enjoyed this study SO much! Thank you!
Trust His love.
Follow His lead.
Accept His will.
Embrace His peace.
I read each one and say, simultaneously, yes, of course I can do this, and no way, it’s not possible for me. I have to remember that the Holy Spirit can help me with this. I try in my own strength and my own will, of course, which is not what this is about. I think if I work on the trust, all else will follow. I pray for His grace to reveal Himself to me more and more, as I immerse myself in His Word and, little by little, like a friend, the more we learn, the more the relationship grows and trust increases. Yes, for me, trust is the focus for 2015. God bless!
This was our verse when my husband and I married some 43+ years ago, and it is still fresh today. Still difficult in EVERY moment to trust Him fully and to know the difference between my way and His.
So True… So hard for us to relinquish control… Trust in Him completely… Delight as we traverse the road He has prepared for us. Oh Lord, relieve us of the burden of being what only You can ever be… Almighty.
I used to be a bad girl. Really bad. The bottom fell out after a while and i had no where to go. I lived in my truck. The slider window didn’t close the whole way and I spent many nights with snow on me. But I had enough friends that I could still go to the bar, have a few drinks and get something to eat. One night at the bar, I met a guy shooting pool. He had just gotten out of jail. Seventeen days later, we said I do. Two months after that, I was pregnant. The first year was rocky, to say the least. At one point my husband tried to flush his wedding ring. He worked seasonally so money was short, and our son had a heart condition and needed meds I couldn’t get locally. I had to go to a compounding pharmacy forty five miles away every thirty days for one of his prescriptions. Then we heard about a program to buy boxes of food at a discount through a church. After we bought our first box, we started attending church on a regular basis. My husband got a full time job, my son came off all his heart medicines, we renewed our vows on our fifth anniversary. I know where I came from and i know God brought me out of it. So even when things look bleak, I find it easy to do what this proverb says. I am so blessed.
Liz – Thank you for the 50 verses. This last one is one of my favorites and have saved them all to have when I need. Happy New Year. Have enjoyed you so much at Women of Faith. Looking forward to 2015. Bless you.
Trust in The Lord. What a powerful statement. A young author I am reading about wrote a book called “the hardest peace” is entering her final days on this earth. I can’t imagine her feelings as her earthly journey comes to an end and the trust she must have in our God. She is leaving behind a very young family but I truly hope she has complete trust in our God to see after her family on their continuous journey on earth.
I hope to remember in the coming year how important it is to trust our God and to know he has our back! No Matter What is going on.
Blessings to you Liz in the coming year. May your ministry continue to shine showing your faithfulness in our God to each and every one of us.
Learning to trust, want to follow and desiring the peace during this present circumstance.
I truly enjoyed reading this. I think the easiest would trusting the Lordbit the hardest will be following His lead. To believe and follow thru and let go will be the hardest. Thank you for this today.
This is such a favorite verse of mine. A verse that has held me together when the pieces of my life were falling apart. A verse my mom once taped on paper below our television so we would all keep the words in our minds and hearts. And now all these years (I’m a grandma now!), I am still reminded that I must continue to trust Him …in all my ways.
This is just what I need to give to my very good friend who was just diagnosed with stage IV cancer. I have been praying for the right words to give her, and you gave them to me today. We also met each other when I was leading your study on Ruth.
Accepting His will. Relinquishing the firm grasp I think I have on my life and accepting His will. Although every single time, His will is always the best. I may not understand it but His way is always the best way for everyone. What a stubborn fool I am! I will pray this scripture over this year! Happy New Yeat!
Good morning – what a way to start my day! My Grandmother wrote this in a Bible she gave me over 55 years ago and the verse has stayed with me over the years. I rely on this verse when there are obstacles in life. It reminds me of her wisdom and many happy times we spent together. Thank you Liz!
As I read these verses, I was reminded of how often the Lord was the only one I could trust. Learning to trust is a very hard lesson in life, but with God we know He always has our backs. This is really a favorite Proverb of mine because I had to learn to trust Him so many times in my life, and when I did, He always saved the day. Bless you for this study, and I look forward to 2015’s study. Have a blessed New Year!
This is the third time this morning that I heard elements of this proverb. Do you think God is trying to tell me something? I love how he repeats things for us control freaks who have a hard time letting Him do His will. Thank you and God bless you and the ministry this year. I’m looking forward to hearing you at the Western Pa. Alliance Women’s Retreat.
Blessings Liz.
As we are wading thru the red tape to adopt 2 of our foster children, I think the easiest is to Follow His Lead, as we are by trying to care for these children. The hardest is to Accept His Will. Every time we hit a road block and I get discouraged, my husband gentle reminds me “In His time”.
Thank you for your message today. I’ve been struggling with “trusting” God. He showed me very clearly when you said trust is one of the first things a child learns. In my case I learned as a child not to trust. As I learn to trust God I will be able to give up the control so that all other areas of my life will come together to be the person He has designed me to be. What an amazing revelation to begin a New Year! Thank you Liz!
I’m not really into the whole ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ thing. It disappears as quickly as a piece of cheesecake in front of a hungry dieter. *Cheese. that’s in the Dairy Food Group, right?*
Seriously though, the most difficult aspect of the four resolutions you list is accepting God’s Will for my pastor hubby and me. Three years ago, God called us to leave our grown children in the Midwest and move to the East Coast to grow two young churches in our association. God made His call very clear to us, so there would be no doubt as to Who we were following. The responses we heard from each of our five children was that of sadness at our being called away mixed with an assurance that if anyone could do this, it would be us. They trusted that we had heard from God and released us to do His will, though it meant sacrificing dearly held hopes of family gatherings and interactions with our three grandchildren.
Knowing that to be in the center of God’s Will is the safest place to be is one thing. To stay there with a good attitude, wholeheartedly submitted to His Hand, is another. God has blessed us in more ways than we can count since we moved out here. We love the people in our churches. They have shown us much love in return. The sacrifice of being physically present in our children’s and grand children’s lives has been the most difficult aspect of accepting God’s Will.
Blessings to you and yours!
Good Morning, what a verse to start out our day. Proverbs 3:5-6 was the one I chose for this study, as it has been a lifesaver in my life, in all my ways, He is the leader.
When I walked thru a depression and anxiety this verse I,prayed over and over again and still do almost daily. Oh Lord how we need you.
And what a promise to Trust Him, follow Him, accept His will, embrace His peace and He will will direct me in the way I should go.
Happy New Year to you Liz and all the wonderful people of this study. It was good.
Thank you for giving us all another perspective on what is an all time, favorite passage from Proverbs. We truly need to let God direct all aspects of our lives and not ” lean on our own understanding.,”
Learning that Truth trumps fact, has been freeing. Fact is I don’t always trust my Abba as I should. Truth is He is in control. Learning to trust Him more and not be so sure I got this. Blessings for 2015 🙂
Happy New year Liz.
So happy that this verse was kept till last as it is the one I chose as one of my favorite ones and yes it is one I pray almost daily and has been a strength for me as I have walked thru many difficult moments, specially about trusting and knowing He will take care. I am so happy to hear of the study you are doing on knowing God, because when we know what He is like I am sure our trust in Him would be secure and steadfast. I do so want to know Him and love Him with all my heart . Love you Liz and all you happy ones.
For me they can all be difficult at times, especially when I am distracted by situations and focusing on myself and not on Him. I think accepting God’s will is the most difficult for me when I know He has something other than what I have in mind. I also resist change and like to stay comfortable with the status quo. So going God’s way for me is many times a challenge.
Mmmm, Trust. That’s always been a hard one for me. Trust has been shaken so many times in my life that I admit I’m pretty skiddish. I KNOW I can Trust my Father, but I often find myself ‘taking back’ what I’ve just given over to Him. I’m looking forward to what 2015 has in store for me and my family and I’m looking forward to continuing with these studies. Thank you Liz for making them available.
Accept His will…this seems to be my hardest resolution. In my heart I trust God’s love.
I try to follow His lead…admittedly imperfectly but I try by getting in His Word so that His Word is in me. I strive for His peace. One way is by keeping a gratitude journal counting God’s gifts. But I am a “control-addict”…I say with my words that I accept His plan, but then I try to adjust it or I whine and get stuck in self-pity. There’s a particular burden, my husband and I have been asking God to change for about a decade. And He has chosen not to yet. So I’m praying Proverbs 3:5-6 over this situation. God has remained our Jehovah Jireh~Provider~ even though our situation isn’t what we hope for He consistently provides! Blessings to you Liz & each of us striving to follow Jesus!
This has been my life verse but I have not really stopped to ponder it. I needed this today as my control issues have been popping up in my life lately. Trust, trust, trust Him and Him only.
When I think of peace, my first thoughts are to lakes, mountains and waterfalls. God has shown me the majesty of his calming presence when I am surrounded by his handiwork. But I have learned that he also demonstrates his peace when I am experiencing the “storms” of life. For me, weathering out the storm, with the peace that my Heavenly Father grants during these times is vastly superior to trying to weather them out by myself.
I do love this verse, too! I know He loves me, at times, when I tell myself it doesn’t matter what others think, I so rely on this!! But I think the hardest part of the verse for me is to follow His lead. This is because I don’t always know what that is; I wait and I try to hear, but I am not always sure.
But, oh, my trust is there!
I am so *excited* for 2015 with you Liz!! xo
Trust his love is the easiest because as you come to know Him, you know that He is love and totally trustworthy. The others involve my obedience and that is still a work in progress!
before reading this last proverb, I wondered which one would be the last for 2014… my thoughts were, I wish this would be it! and I should have submitted it as my favorite… it is one that is etched in my brain (I memorized it years ago), and remains a constant battle to etch it in my heart every day, every hour, every minute of every year…thank you Liz! Happy New Year to all!
Liz,
LOVE these four words…..what a great way to end the year and to start a NEW year!! I have loved the study through the Proverbs. I copied each one and made my own Liz Curtis Higgs Proverbs notebook…looking forward to reading it through out the year! Excited to begin the next Wednesday study…Happy New Year!!
What a sweet prayer to carry us into the new year. Reminding me that ” underneath are His everlasting arms”. Trust His love…..not always easy to simply trust in Jesus completely. He is ever patiently teaching me along the way.
This is my verse for 2014 but as it keeps coming up for me, It seems to be my life verse rather than verse for the year. I hadn’t been given a life verse prior and believe God just showed me this is it. I wasn’t ready to stop focusing on the verse at the end of the year and i think that’s why. Thank you for breaking it down, for us, Liz. God bless you this New Year and always!
~Anna <3
This is absolutely a favorite scripture and one of the first I ever memorized. What a 2 year ride we have been on, and could not have done this alone. This scripture helped me thru MANY dark discouraging days. From the time of what we thought was my husbands ‘terminal diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, THRU to the miracle of a live saving, SAVIOR given miracle of a double lung transplant. We are 2 months post transplant, and these words are ever guiding me when I feel overwhelmed and lost. The easiest one for me is TRUSTing in the LORD…have we not been shown a miracle with our very own eyes? Watching him breath is like watching the parting of the RED SEA every time. The hardest one for me is to “FOLLOW HIS LEAD” It doesn’t take long for me to think I have got this, and try to take the lead again. Kind of like dancing with my sister, we both try to lead! Following HIS lead will be my mantra for this year…Thank you LIZ so looking forward to your new study. I was late to this one, but in some ways…the straight ones…RIGHT ON TIME.
I don’t know why it is so difficult to let God take total control of my life (every detail) because I have NEVER been disappointed by His plans for me. His plan is so much better than I could ever try to do on my own! Liz I love the prayer you included at the end of this post, I will copy it and work on changing my heart and focus to reflect that. Thanks!
This verse has a special place for me. I was a school nurse working the day we got out for Christmas. It was an extremely difficult day for me personally- tears were constantly hovering, threatening to spill out any second. For a day that was fun filled for the children and teachers, it was not for me. I saw over 60 children that day before 2 when the parties began. Whatever it was that was going on in my heart that day, God knew. At the end of the day one of my sweet moms brought me a present. I couldn’t open it right away, but sat it on my desk for later. Two little framed verses. This one was on top- The tears did spill over and I cried like a baby-for His provision, and for her being His servant. The crisis came and went but I have those verses up there on the wall and every time i see them I remember that day. and yes, I did thank her and we did have a sweet chat about God and His love and faithfulness. Thankful others like this verse, too. Trusting with all my heart- critical for being His Child.
Proverbs 3:5-8…my life passage. Never realized the map and instruction manual for my life could all be wrapped up in four short verses. The four resolutions will be equally challenging as they are equally lovely to dwell on and implement in my life in the coming year. I’m excited for 2015’s study! Thanks much for your blog!
The easiest for me to embrace……if I am honest, none of them. I am a person who likes to be in control. I want to know the plan and the end game. So trusting, following, accepting? HA If I could do those three things then embracing peace would be easy. Praying every day that I would let God be God.
Simply acknowledging that I CANNOT nor am I expected to solve all the problems around me, I take a big breath and give the Lord thanks that it is He who is in control.
These are my “life” verses. It is really hard for me to give up control to Him.
I find myself fighting this battle almost daily. It is a slow, had process but one I must go through and trust Him with the outcome.
The Chinese student our family hosted for 18 months proclaimed Proverbs 3:5, 6 as his favorite. He came to us an unbeliever – never exposed to the gospel’s truth. We marveled at his growing faith through graduation from Christian high school. Our “son,” now in college, attends church regularly and we trust our Lord will ignite the flicker of his faith . How comprehensive and vast is God’s grace through His powerful Word!
“Follow His Lead” would be the easiest for me to follow. This implies that I can see the way He is leading me. I think through prayer and Bible Study this really is possible.
“Trust His love” is the hardest for me. I have discovered that there is no human person that I can fully trust and have been disappointed time after time. However, the few times I have been able to truly LEAVE a problem in the hands of my Father God, the burden has been completely lifted and the outcome is of no concern to me. He is capable and trustworthy. I am weak and afraid to trust.
Wow….it should be so simple! Trust Him! It is us who get things so complicated….so messed up! I pray that I can make this my resolution in the New Year! Thanks and Happy New year Liz!
There’s just something about the Proverbs; so concise and full of meaning. I have loved evey one! Looking forward to 2015 with you!
6 months ago I left all my family and friends to move to Chicago for a ministry position. It was a clear call from the Lord. He has been faithful, even through my tears of frustration and loneliness. For me, accepting His will is the most difficult as I struggle with ongoing health issues, questioning my abilities to fulfill His mission, and being an old maid! HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL is what I cling to.
Proverbs 3:5-6 have been what I call my life verses for many years. Thank you for sharing and thank you for following the Lord’s leading!
What a delight it has been to walk through favorite Proverbs with you! Thank you so much for pouring into your readers that which God has poured into you to share with us! Blessings upon you and your ministry in the upcoming year!
Every year God has been giving me a word to work on for the year. “Joy” was the word He gave me when I was diagnosed with leukemia. The next year the word was “hope.” Last year the word was “trust.” I’ve been waiting this month for the word for 2015. I believe the word is going to be “trust” again. Over the past week I’ve been getting that confirmation. This blog pretty much cinches it. Thank you for being God’s voice to me. As I continue to know Him better in 2015, I will trust for what lies ahead.
It is hardest for me to trust His love, mainly because of baggage I carry from the past. However He has brought me to a place in my life that I must face and work through, with His guiding. The easiest is His peace, I have been wrapped in it countless times
Looking forward to the study in 2015!
I love these verses! I’ve stood on them throughout the years! I’ve enjoyed this study of Proverbs so much! Am looking forward to 2015!!
I treasure these verses; they are hanging on a wall in my bedroom. So great that a whole life truly intertwined with the truth and the promise here is guaranteed success in life. I guess the hardest one for me to finally honestly grasp is to accept His will unconditionally. Isn’t He indescribable in His tender teaching and patient leading as we learn to know Him better?
Thank you, Liz, for sharing the wisdom you glean from Him.
You have blessed me.
I have enjoyed studying Proverbs with Liz. I plan to work on trusting in our great big God this year and doing my best to give grace like He has shown me.
Thank you so so much, Liz for these 50 great posts on Proverbs! I have loved reading every single one of them. And I’ve enjoyed pinning all the lovely Proverbs pins to a special board and looking forward to getting all the verses memorized. Thank you for being a chanel through which God works. I appreciate your ministry.
Blessings on your 2015!
Kelsey
I love these verses! I’ve stood on them throughout the years of being missionaries… My children and I have stood on them after my husband went on to heaven….remarriage and relocation! I’ve enjoyed this study of Proverbs so much! Am looking forward to 2015!!
My mother-in-law reminded me of these verses back in 1963 when I was waiting to hear about a job offer. I have found that trusting the Lord with “all my heart” is the key to peace. He is faithful!
Follow His Lead: I had just read a quote about the New Year and new chapter of life for the New Year and I wrote God is the Author and I am the writer and will I allow God to direct me or will I allow flesh. My prayer is to seek God in all I do and follow his lead and allow him to transcribe his perfect will for me.
I love reading through Proverbs with you. This last one is my favorite verse too.
I hope you will put this entire study into a book. I could reads these over and over
Thank you for being a great teacher and wonderful person sharing the Word if
God with us.
J
I have long embraced these verses and boy have they been a life-line for me! I think the easiest resolution from these 4 based on this Proverb is Trust His Love. After almost 50 years with Jesus, I am finally able to do this more easily. however, Follow His Lead is still a struggle for me. I’m a do-er and so so often I get ahead and make my own path instead of following God’s path.
I have loved studying these Proverbs every week! thanks so much Liz!!
This post makes me think of some things God is telling me recently. He’s bringing back to mind things He has told me. Like last night He spoke to me, “This is why I asked you to remember.” A while back He told me to pay attn to one of my devotions and remember it b/c eventho I was feeling good, I would need it. The past few days I’ve been feeling bad and last night He showed me that’s why He wanted me to remember.
You shared about Trusting God. And it hit me, that is why He speaks things like that to me. I do have many times I think I have to figure everything out. Those are times I feel God nudge me. Those are the times I feel God speaking to me most abt remembering what He showed me or relax – He has this. Now I understand why He does talk to me as I feel Him do. So I will trust Him.
Then you mentioned Him making our paths straight and it hit me. I had a vision once about a path, there was a “pit” next to it, a big open area, and many paths straying from it. Each time I passed one of the smaller paths, it scared me. I knew I couldn’t go down them. But the “pit” scared me too. On the path, ahead of me, was a dear sister in Christ cheering me on to stay out of the “pit”, to stay on the path. I’ve been looking for that path since that vision. I know I will find a place that looks like it. But it hit me, your words describe why I saw that path. It is the one God is leading me down. The sister in Christ in my vision, she is a cheerleader along that path I’m sure. Amazing how God shows us things so clearly.
As the mother of two adult children, I cling to these verses not only for myself, but especially for them. I can give advise but only the Lord knows what’s best for them and the journey He has ordained for them. When I let His truth wash over me, the peace flows in!
I just love you to bits, Liz. You are one of the most Godly, funniest women serving God’s kingdom. I am in charge of the bulletin board in my Sunday school class and have a section that says “Don’t Forget to Remember . . . ” and then I post a short message with a scripture. I’m going to use this (“TRUST” & Psalm 3:5-6) as the 1st post for 2015. Thank you so much for sharing the Proverbs. Thanks as well for the chance to win one of the beautiful necklaces or prints. Wishing you a blessed new year.
Proverbs 3:5-6 is my favorite verse. I love reading it in the Message version:
“Trust God from the bottom or your heart; don’t try to figure it out on your own. Listen to God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the One who will keep you on track”. God is my go to Guy!
Thank you Liz for sharing Gods word and being so true to His teaching !!
It’s always a joy to read and meditate on you’re blog’s postings !
I am trusting in The Lord everyday…and praying that He will destroy all the cancer cells
In my body.(especially to shrivel up the tumor like He did the fig tree)
May this new year be filled with wonders of His love and peace!
I so enjoy you’re books, have shared them with other sisters..thanks again Liz
I love how you ended this year of proverbs on such profound verses! They really sum up what it means to walk with the Lord, relying solely on Him and Hm alone. It Is a perceived sense of control, that makes me think I have life figured out…when in reality all I can do is surrender to the One who sits on the throne and knows me inside and out!!!
Thank you for unpacking these verses. Takes on quite a deeper meaning than what I think of. I have this verse embroidered on a blanket I use as an afghan every morning. I dont think there is any part that is more difficult than the other. The whole thing is hard! Especially the way you explained it! Always room for more growth. I love that the Lord never leaves us anywhere, but is always urging us on. To more, to better, to him!
The hardest for me to deal with is trust. I no longer know what love is, so this one is hard for me to understand let alone follow and live by it. I am getting better, but I am not fully there yet. The world keeps getting in my way just when it is important. The easiest to follow is peace. I lean on that so much it is hard not to know when I am not. I can’t follow His lead without the peace so that I can find it amongst the noise.
Thank you for posting the Proverb verses. They are good reminders to myself and others as I am sharing them on Facebook too.
Thank you for breaking this all down! I think the hardest one for me is letting go and following His lead!
Happy healthy New Year to all!
I was so heartened to finish the year with one of my favourite bible verses. Thank you Liz for giving the words new freshness, and helping me carve them even deeper into my heart. I have been dreading the new year, having to return to the school I work in….last September I moved to a new school and the teacher I work for has left me in tears, demoralised and a shadow of who I know I can be. So I will keep these words close to me and pray that I can find a way to manage in 2015. Following His path will be hard, as I struggle to discern His will fir me.
Oh Liz, thank you for this. Proverbs 3:5,6 have been my life verses for most of my life. These words have been my friend through many, many roads in my life….whether straight or curvy. How true are these words you wrote, “God is in control whether we allow Him to be or not. We do not make Him Lord. He is Lord.” I love sharing your posts on my FB page. Not only to encourage my friends who are lovely, christian woman but to encourage my friends who are lovely woman but do not know Him. I’m always telling my friends how you get ‘it’. You know how to say just the right thing in just the right way. The Lord has truly blessed you. Thank you! Peace & love
I think embracing His peace will be the hardest for me, but I am going to search for it in 2015!! Thank you Liz for your understanding and sharing it with us.
Big changes are happening here . . . Good changes, but it seems very sureal. Todays devotion was exactly what I needed to hear. I find it easy to trust God, but I feel so undeserving. He always gives us exactly what we need . . . xo
This is my favorite verse since I first read it and understood it. I always leaned on my own understanding . It’s no wonder I made a mess of myself . The moment I began to trust God my life changed. I have been a Christian since I was 10 yeas old . I didn’t start trusting until I was in my 50’s. That’s why my grandmother said it’s the living bible . You never stop learning every time you read it !
My fave Proverb too.
Can’t wait for His is Worthy Wednesdays (&everyday)!
Trust and obey…for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey! So much truth in the words of this old hymn. Thank you Liz for all the words of truth you shared with us this year. May you be blessed with a fruitful New Year!
The past 15 months have been hard for me, but I’m slowly getting through it. It is easy to say to trust in God, and we should, but it is not always easy to do. But He has been with me and helped me get through the most difficult time of my life. I’m hoping the New Year will be a bit better and I will allow God to lead me more and I will try to follow.
Right now, accepting His will is harder for me. My sister is very ill and it sort of scares me to accept His will. The great thing is, I know He will see me through!
(Follow his lead.) Is the one I choose. Since each year I have a word to live by that helps me with my desire to follow Jesus. This year to come I have chosen (Insight- understanding.) I have done this for several years, starting with Believe. Then came Persevere, then Listen. This is something between God and I and I can only tell you that for me it was a life changer. Blessings to you and all the people that get great help and encouragement from you the whole year through.
Oh how I struggle with trust, BUT thank God that He uses His wonderful word to remind me over and over again of His perfect love and that He is trustworthy – today, tomorrow, and for eternity. THANK YOU Liz for unpacking these Proverbs and helping me turn my eyes off of myself and onto Him. I want to love God more – with all my heart, soul, mind, and spirit – I pray this for 2015. Happy New Year and God Bless!!
Isn’t trust what it all boils down to. Whenever big time happenings (seriously bad ones)
comes to us or those we love, we question and whine some……..and inevitably we ask each other (Larry, my husband, and I) do we trust God enough to see us through this.
So we have to commit our ways again to the Lord. Submitting is not a natural way for most of us humans, but the Lord knows us, continues to love and lead us. Thank you, Liz, for sharing your life and insights into the Word. May 2015 be a year of great joy for you as you continue to bless others and grow in the Lord.
In the topsy tervy year that our family has just experienced, these two verses in Proverbs were my mantra!! What would I have done without letting go and trusting? Letting go is very difficult for me, but…when I do there is such a peace! In the end our family experienced many miracles among the trials during 2014 and I became better at letting go and trusting. My prayer is to begin this new year in the same trusting mode. Thank you Jesus!!
I really needed to read this today. I have always been kind of a control freak…already making plans about all that I will do in 2015. When I saw the line that He is Lord, we don’t make him Lord, it really spoke to me. He is in control. I need to work on trusting Him to be in control of my life every day. Thank you.
I’d have to say embracing his peace because even though I trust in God and try to follow his lead and accept his will for my life, I often find myself, particularly in the middle of the night, not resting peacefully. I know I’m not to worry and worrying is contrary to trusting but I still do. I pray all of the verses, including this one, that I know about trusting God and resting in his peace and yet it still creeps in.
Praying for all of you to have a safe, blessed and joyful New Year in 2015.
sitting in the hospital today with my husband of 39 years. He is being treated for acute leukemia. This Scripture is a blessing as well as my mom’s favorite. After a lifetime of walking with the Lord for over 60 years, I’ve learn to trust Him. Accepting His will, given my husband’s prognosis, is something I had to once again yield to today. Being able to say “whatever” and embracing His peace. He is faithful.
.
Trust His Love hit home for me. Something I felt I was losing. After my Mother passed on it only was a few months later that I had lost my older sister about two weeks later a nephew was killed in a car driven by his best friend. When’s it going to stop Is all I could think. The world must be coming to an end. I prayed I read but to know avail I opened the
Newspaper only to see my brother had passed as well. Through it all Jesus was in control I wasn’t. Trust is hard I’m still working on that. To follow always. Accept His will, Embrace his peace. All I can say is He’s been with me every tear of the way. Thank you Liz and all of you who commented.
” God is in control whether we allow Him to be or not. We do not make Him Lord. He is Lord.”
Simply stated but powerful revelation.
Thank you 🙂
This is fantastic. I feel like I know ABOUT God sometimes but don’t always KNOW HIM. I’m striving for more intimacy in 2015.
I have enjoyed studying the Proverbs with you. I love the insight that God gives
you. Of course I love everything you write. Thanks for sharing with us as God Leads.
I am starting 2015 by endeavoring to do the Daniel 21 day fast. I am praying for
my lost children, praying for a greater understanding of His Word. I do not feel I have an issue with trust or doing as God’s leads. I would like a deeper peace in my life.
Thanks for all you do to inspire us.
Hey chicks! How are you! Wow, what a great lesson! I would say – Embrace His peace is easy for me, after I fret, and pray and seek, I can rest in His peace. Now, when it comes to trusting He loves me, oh my, can it possibly be? He would love little ole me? I really have to be convinced everyday , all day. But I’m working on it! I love Him!
You words are always honoring to God! You have a special way of interpreting
the wisdom given by God in the Bible and applying it to our lives. It is good that “trust”
is no. 1 because our faith begins when we are able to “trust” or accept Jesus as
our savior.
Your “Rise and Shine” is such an encouragement each day. Thank you for loving on
us with your ability to put in writing God’s ways.
The easiest: embrace His peace. I love that feeling that overcomes you~~when you know that you are enveloped in His peace. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give you….”
The hardest: follow His lead. I guess this is the hardest for me because I am afraid. Afraid of the unknown and I’m giving up some control. I think I can use John 14:27 for this one too. “….Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
PS: I love the shower curtain!
Embracing His peace is easiest for me. When times get tough, and that peace that passes all understanding enters into my heart, I am so comforted. I purposely look for it I until I find it.
Accepting His will, is hardest for me…..as I hear from friends who just found out they or a loved one have a terminal disease , or someone is killed by a drunk driver , the first question seems to be “why?”. In my heart I know it is God’s will, but the question still pops up.
Awesome verses to ponder upon (Ponder is my word for 2015…;-). One of these days I’m gonna get to see you in person!! HOPE you have an awesome 2015.
I too want to thank you for being willing to share what God gives you. I know it can be hard and leave you vulnerable but it has been a blessing in my life. I was honored to see and hear you along with my sisters, sister in laws, nieces and friends at the Christmas tea this year from my church. I have been reading your post for a long time, thru the Favorite verses and the Women of Christmas and the Proverbs. I print them so I can read them again or share them with a friend who might be blessed by following your posts. I am planning to study the names of God this coming year as a way of getting to know more about who He is and His character so I can Trust, Accept, Embrace and Follow Him better. I am sure your posts will be a helpful companion in this journey. May God bless you and reveal Himself to you even more fully this year.
Oh Liz, My whole being was tested on these four words last night before I even knew what today’s verse would be. I arrived home from work only to have a very “unsettling” message from my doctor’s office. It was too late to call back so for quite some time I walked the floor imagining the worst of course. Then I knew if I TRUSTED God, it would be ok. If I am willing to FOLLOW God wherever this path may go, it would be ok. If I ACCEPT whatever God’s plan is right now, it will be ok. If I EMBRACE the journey no matter how scary it is right now, it will be ok. I went to bed, truthfully still a little shaken for the unknown, but slept peacefully. Thank you God the message while unsettling, turned out to be nothing at all just a mix up on some blood work that was drawn. Whew! But it made me stop and think, do I really live what I say I believe? Not always easy to do as our human minds allow the deceiver to plant all sorts of notions in our heads. Trust, Follow, Accept and Embrace – sounds like a good way to begin 2015 to me!
Happy New Year Liz! I can’t wait to see what 2015 holds! ~ Retha
This is my favorite also.Learning how to trust Him and not my own understanding. That’s a full time job. But He is faithful in everything.Praise His Holy Name.
I love these verses. For 2015 I would love to be able to embrace his peace. His peace sounds so comforting and it’s like he is embracing me if I can just let go and trust God with everything especially my heart.
Trusting Him to lead me in the new year. My word for 2015 is NEW. The verse that spoke to me was Isaiah 43:18-19.
Wonderful and meaniful verses!! Oh to truly submit to him and what wonders he has for us! For 2015 I want to dig deeper in His word and pray like never before. Thank you, Liz, for all you do to help keep up focused on God! Wonderful wishes for a happy & truly blessed 2015,
The easyest one to follow for me to trust, the hardest one, accept.
Thank you for this devotional. Very helpful!
I especially liked the phrase…”This is what God is waiting for us to grasp: If you knew Me, you would trust Me.”
Have really enjoyed these posts on Proverbs. Thank you.
Happy New Year!
Easiest: trust HIs love. Hardest: accept His will.
I’ve loved reading these posts and being reminded of God’s great love for me. God bless you and yours in the coming year.
Thank you for this powerful lesson on Proverbs 3:5-6! This is exactly what I needed to end the old year and begin the new year. Every year I ask the Lord for a verse to be my verse, my focus for the year and it will be these two verses I know now. You asked which would be hardest. I think all four points will be a challenge but I really want to let go trying to be in control and to understand on my own. I want to let everything go and let Him be my Lord. Looking forward to the studies this year, Liz and thanks again for being faithful to His calling to teach His word. You are a great blessing!
Boy, these verses have really meant a lot to me this year . . . A year of transition. I know my husband & I will be opened hand & head bowed in 2015. . .surrender, trust & glorifying Him in 2015. Just loved each proverb, thanks so much!
Hardest for me is to follow His lead.
I am so ashamed to say it but I am scared to step out in faith and do what I know He wants me to do. Especially telling others about Christ and His love.
Each week I kept watching for my favorite proverb to appear and finally here it is as the number 1 favorite! I have loved this study, learned much and had a few “aha” moments… Thank you Liz for sharing your blessing with all of us!
A great thought to end one year and remember for the new year. Lean NOT into your own understanding, and Trust Him in all of your ways. What a perfect resolution and prayer for 2014. Thankyou for sharing. May this be imprinted into our thoughts and
actions with the comfort we have in allowing the Lord to lead and guide us.
it seems that once I accept God’s will the trusting and following come so much easier. Then with the trusting and following peace is just a natural
Hi Liz!
I have thoroughly enjoyed following this Prov. study all yr. Even when I’ve been convicted- it’s been good and rich in truth. Thanks so much for studying and sharing all things the Holy Spirit has guided you in. I am really looking forward to the next series!! When I was spending a lot of devotional time in Ps. (while going through cancer treatments) I kept being faced with the fact that while David laments, he always ended by ….Praise to God! He knew the power of praise while in the midst of sufferings. Also, he said many times “I will tell of the wondrous things you do, Lord”- a very real way of applying the truth he learned of God’s character and ways. So, I look forward to Praising God with you in this next season! Thanks always~ and God Bless You in 2015! Your sister, Sinita
Thank you, dear Liz, for this timely reminder of the verses I memorized as a child. I have found it so true that to know him is to trust him. Hard to trust a stranger, but I can trust the One I’ve grown to know and love more with each passing day. A blessed New Year to you!
So many times this year, you’ve been right on for what I needed to read! THANK YOU! These scriptures in Proverbs are what I try to pray daily over myself, my adult children, 2 young grandsons, and pastors at my church…Powerful words from Scripture!
Following His lead is hard because I always want to lead. Thanks for the reminder of Who is in charge now and for 2015. These Bible studies on Proverbs have been uplifting and encouraging as they bring to life lessons for life. Thanks! and I look forward to the studies in the new year.
Letting go and letting Him be in charge is one of the most difficult things for me. I always seem to give it to Him and take it right back again and that’s been a struggle. Thank you for your uplifting, very meaningful encouragment through your studies, writing and teaching. Over and over I have found just the right measure of comfort through your shaing of His word. I am very much so looking forward to more for the new year. Your sister, Elizabeth
So easy to understand, so hard to do!!
Trusting His love for me would be the easiest, as most often we as children trusted our parents while growing up……the hardest for me would be embracing His peace…. even though that seems contradictory……because I am so humanly “human”, I tend to let my heart and mind become overly distraught before seeking the Comforter’s strength and admonition. Thank you, Liz!
Oh, I am so sad this study is over! I could hardly wait for each new Proverb to come into my inbox! But this last verse is an all time fave of mine as well as so many of you. The hardest part of this verse for me is….accept His will. As long as God wants for me what I want, all is fine. But surrendering completely to His perfect will, is difficult. So I just discovered my word for 2015…..SURRENDER! God has His work cut out for Him……thankfully, He’s always up to the challenge, and has promised to bring us all into the image of His dear Son, Jesus!
Follow HIS leading….2015 will be a year of stepping out in faith to follow where he leads me. 🙂
Happy New Year – In 2015, I plan to take time to stop and listen so I can embrace His peace. -.
The easiest “Trust His Love”, the hardest “Accept His Will”. Love this Proverb…Thanks for the insight…Linda
This was very thought provoking and I appreciate you sending me on that journey. I would say following His lead is the biggest challenge for me and embracing His peace is the one I find a bit easier.
Thank you so much for loving us enough to spend all year teaching us the truths hid in God’s word!!! What a blessing the Proverbs were to me and sometimes just what I needed that week!! I have written them all in a notebook for reference but I so hope you put them in a book!!! God bless you Liz looking forward to 2015 and what you and God have in store for us!!! God Bless
What thought provoking, challenging, encouraging posts on Proverbs this year. Thank you so much for investing in my life by making your teaching available online and for free!!
My first response is to say that I have the most difficulty w/ “following His lead.” I find that I frequently resist change. This is an area that I know I need help with. I am not sure what else to say right now. A light bulb just went off in my head as I read this post. There is only 1 hour before 2015! Happy New Year and God Bless you, Liz.
I have just had a holiday from hell. Family fighting and belittleling each other. When took some time out to go through my emails i was just absolutely spoken to by Gods word. Thank you for your inspirstion through His word and love. Have blessed 2015.
Oh dear sweet Lizzie! I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for your Proverbs devotionals that I have pondered in my heart daily! Today’s scripture was a Wonderful end to use for the beginning of 2015! TRUST has been my mantra throughout the year and I am growing in that area of my spiritual walk. Looking forward to your new devotionals! Thank you for your gift of encouragement through your writings! Much love and prayers! Lisa C
Hi Liz. Thanks for giving me insight on these 50 Proverbs. I am blessed to learn God’s Word from you. I can’t wait for what you will be teaching us in 2015. Happy New Years. May God continue blessing you, your family, and your ministry. The easiest for me to live is to ‘Trust His love.’ He is so gracious and kind and has loved me deeply. I’m so grateful to know Him intimately. The hardest for me to live is to ‘Follow His lead’ probably because I don’t always know His timing. So I run ahead instead of waiting for His lead.
I think “accept His will” probably. I submit to His will, but sometimes when we don’t really like how something turns out, even though we know He knows best, it is hard to ‘accept’ it. I have to do some serious praying sometimes and have some ‘one on one’ with my God, to really get it and eventually learn to accept His will. I always know He is right, good and everything He does is perfect…but my human-ness gets in the way. So glad we can trust our God all the time!
My hardest one to do would be to follow God’s lead. Sometimes I am not sure if it is my will or God’s. Then when I make a decision He lets me know because if it is His will I have a peace about it. Sometimes it is already too late to change before I know it though.
Trust His love, Follow His lead, Accept His will, Embrace His peace.
I’m positive that I’m not the only woman sitting here thinking she wrote this for me! So many of the devotions from Pro. 31 move me in this way. I long to trust His love, I long to truly absorb the fact that Christ loves me and has a plan designed just for me. I’ve lived trying to please people and gain acceptance for way to long…how wasteful, shallow and harmful! My prayer for myself and any other sister who is a mass of insecurities is to accept His love and acceptance, live to please Him only, the rest will surely follow… Happy New Year!
Wow, this theme will work well with the theme God gave me for my 2015 journal…Joy of Worship! God knows, doesn’t He? He never leaves us without encouragement for the journey. Thank you, Liz
These verses are so special and this study of them has been wonderful. I have learned this past year to really rely on God’s love and care. My husband went home to be with the Lord in May and I wondered how I would “make” but God has been abundantly gracious and is reminding me daily that I can trust Him. I praise Him all the time for His love and mercy. Keep sending your studies, I need them even though I am involved in other Bible studies. They are uplifting. Have a wonderful 2015!
Please pray for my son Max and my family — it is hard for me to trust God right now, as my 12-year old son has been diagnosed w/ Crohn’s and this has been saddening for us all, and my son is struggling emotionally … I want to trust God’s plan, but this disease is all about unknowns and it is very difficult. Thank you for your posts and prayers.
Oh Liz. I scroll through these replies and, through them, these women who are our sisters. I see how you touch lives. You truly are one of His instruments. Trust in the Lord — I do and I will, even when my humanity tempts me to trust my errant self. Thank you, Liz, for doing His work. May you be blessed a thousand times each day.
What a very inspiring devotional. My family recently experienced a death in the family and this devotional came right on time. Thank You so much for encouraging my soul on today!
Have trust in me! Accept my Will! All my Life I read and I trust him but Sometimes with healt ProbLemes like anxiety it is a hard working every day but I still Have confidence for him the Lord.I Have l’ost two Children to Three and I never tôld Him “You Have done this or Because of You” I Know that some day I Will see his Glory and my childrens.Thank you Lizz for Béring the personne you are.