The Bible Edge
Practical Points to Ponder from Proverbs
Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Don’t know what to do, or how to do it, or even if you should do it? Commit it to the Lord and He will establish your heart on it.
Gideon did this when he put out the fleece (Judges 6). In I Chronicles 14:10 David asked the Lord …Shall I go up against the Philistines? Nehemiah did this when he fasted, prayed, wept, and mourned certain days over the plight of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1). Paul did this when he asked …what wilt thou have me to do? in Acts 9. Even Jesus spent all night in prayer prior to choosing His Apostles (Luke 6:12).
All of the heroes of faith that are collectively admired committed their works to the Lord through prayer. Their thoughts were established. This gave them direction, instruction, confidence, boldness, and sometimes the way when they could not find the way.
So, the next project, the next big decision, the next time you are faced with a big, or a little, decision. Pray about it first, put it in the domain of the spiritual by giving it to the Lord God; He will establish your thoughts. Even, and especially if that work you are about to undertake is within the purview of His will. He will let you know. After all, the Lord God in Heaven wants you to know His will on the matter probably more than you want to know it.
Then study the Scriptures. Find any stories, illustrations, word pictures, or direct statements about that “work” you are about to undertake and learn. Learn from the scriptures. This takes work, time, and sometimes it takes enlisting the help of someone who knows the Bible better than you do. No, the Bible may not mention your “work” by name. But it will give you a direction, boundaries, and understanding of Biblical principles that will aid your work.
Then, yield to the Holy Spirit. Wherein the Bible does not communicate specifics, the Holy Spirit does. He knows the issue, the work, the project, He knows how to perform it to the glory of God, He understands it all, and He will guide you. By way of personal testimony let this writer say, He will give you what you need, when you need it. Sometimes it is while driving, or sitting in church or relaxing at home, or working on another task that a thought, a plan, a way, a strategy, a manner in doing the work comes to mind. That is the Holy Spirit leadership, He is establishing your thoughts.
Before, during, and even after performing the “work” pray, search the Scriptures, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Your thoughts will be established, and your work will be a success.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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