Good morning, and welcome to another episode of Living Word Cast. I’m Pastor Michael, and today we’re going to reflect on a topic that affects each of us every single day—how to make wise decisions. Life is filled with choices, and sometimes it can feel overwhelming to know the right path to take. But as believers, we have access to a treasure greater than anything this world can offer: God’s wisdom.

Our passage for today comes from Proverbs 3:5-6, and I want to encourage you to listen carefully, let it sink into your heart, and consider how this applies to your life today.

Scripture:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." — Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Reflection:

When we talk about making decisions, it's easy to fall into the trap of relying solely on our own understanding, our own experience, or the counsel of others. But the wisdom of Proverbs is clear: the key to making decisions that honor God and lead to His will is to trust in Him fully and seek His guidance. Let’s break down these verses to understand how we can walk in God's wisdom when making decisions.

First, we are called to trust in the Lord with all our heart. This isn’t just a surface-level trust, but a deep, wholehearted trust. It means we acknowledge that God's wisdom far exceeds our own. We trust that He knows what’s best for us, even when we don’t fully understand the situation.

Trusting God with all our heart means surrendering our desires, our will, and our plans to Him. It means choosing to believe that His plan for our lives is good, even if it looks different than what we imagined. It’s not about what we want, but about what God wants for us.

Next, we’re warned not to lean on our own understanding. Our natural inclination is to rely on our intellect, our experience, and what we know. But Proverbs reminds us that our understanding is limited. We see things through the lens of our own experiences, emotions, and biases. But God sees the big picture. He knows the future, and He sees all things clearly. When we lean on our own understanding, we risk missing out on God's perfect plan.

So, what does it mean to make wise decisions? It’s not just about knowledge or reasoning; it’s about turning to God in prayer and through His Word to guide us. That’s why the next part of the verse is so important: In all your ways acknowledge Him. To acknowledge God means to submit to His authority and recognize His sovereignty over every part of our lives. In all our ways—whether big or small—we are to invite God into the decision-making process. We don’t take any decision for granted. We acknowledge God in our work, in our relationships, in our goals, and in our daily activities. We bring our decisions before Him, asking for His wisdom and guidance.

And what does God promise when we do this? He promises that He will make straight our paths. When we acknowledge Him and seek His will, He will guide us. He will lead us in the right direction, even when the path seems unclear or uncertain. His guidance will bring clarity, peace, and confidence as we walk in His will.

Application:

So, how can we apply this wisdom to our daily lives? Here are a few practical steps:

Commit to Prayer: Before making any decision, take time to pray. Bring your choices before the Lord and ask Him to guide you. Trust that He hears your prayers and is faithful to respond.

Seek His Word: The Bible is God’s wisdom revealed to us. In times of uncertainty, open His Word and meditate on the Scriptures. God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). Let it shape your decisions.

Listen to God’s Voice: God speaks to us in various ways: through