Proverbs 3:6 (Mini Sermon)

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6. Pro 3:6 - "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." A. In all thy ways acknowledge him. i. Here is the result of, and motivation for, trusting in the LORD with all of our hearts and leaning not unto our own understanding: divine guidance. ii. Having God direct our paths is contingent upon us acknowledging Him in all our ways. a. Acknowledge v. - 1. To own the knowledge of; to confess; to recognize or admit as true. b. In other words, in all that we think and do, we must recognize God and admit that He is true. c. This brings to mind the words of the apostle Paul who wrote, "yea, let God be true, but every man a liar" (Rom 3:4). iii. Acknowledging God is recognizing and confessing that His Son Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh (1Ti 3:16; Joh 1:14). a. Those who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God do not acknowledge God, for "whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also" (1Jo 2:23). b. This means that Jews, Muslims, and all other non-Christians have no expectation of God directing their paths. iv. Acknowledging God is conceding that His word reigns supreme over every aspect of our lives. a. In order to do so, we must admit that "the ways of the LORD are right" (Hos 14:9), and ours are wrong. b. As scripture declares: (i) "The statutes of the LORD are right" (Psa 19:8). (ii) "Thy judgments are right" (Psa 119:75). (iii) The Lord is "a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he" (Deu 32:4). v. After admitting that God and His law are true and right, we must acknowledge that we have sinned against the LORD and have gone our own way (Isa 53:6; Jer 3:13; Jer 14:20; Psa 32:5; Psa 51:3). vi. Until we do that, God will not direct our paths, but rather hide His face from us (Hos 5:15). B. ...and he shall direct thy paths. i. The LORD will guide the steps of the righteous man who acknowledges his need of Him. ii. God promises to instruct, teach, and guide us (Psa 32:8) and order our steps (Psa 37:23). iii. Too often, Christians plan the course of their lives without any consideration of the LORD's will, boldly declaring what they are going to do (Jam 4:13). a. But they don't know what tomorrow holds (Jam 4:14). b. They ought to instead preface their plans with "if the Lord wills" (Jam 4:15). iv. When we acknowledge God in all our ways, He shall direct our paths (Pro 16:9). v. The Lord directs the paths of the righteous in the same way that the banks of a river direct the path of the water flowing between them. a. The riverbanks allow the water to flow freely within them, but prevent it from overflowing them. b. So God sets bounds and limits on the decisions and actions of His children, preventing them from taking a course that His will does not permit (Pro 21:1).