“For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
His Wisdom, Not My Own
I still remember the seemingly random way God pointed me to what would become one of my life verses, that day in my freshman year of college when my heart was troubled and I sought help in His Word but wasn’t sure where to look.
After trying to work out an answer by myself — unsuccessfully — I sought Him.
Too often I turn to my first line of defense as a last resort.
I closed my eyes, opened my Bible, and pointed my finger. While I don’t recommend this as a method of Bible study, I’m thankful it led me to the third chapter of Proverbs:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. {Proverbs 3:5-6}
I needed those words that day and many days since, a reminder to trust the Lord’s wisdom rather than my own.
Scripture clearly teaches that our ways and thoughts are very different from His. Note the contrasts in the following verses:
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. {Proverbs 14:12}
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! {Isaiah 5:20-21}
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. {Isaiah 55:8-9}
Never place emotion or gut instinct above the surety of God’s Word.
Do you remember a time when you learned a hard lesson by following your head instead of God’s Word?
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Dawn,
“A” time?? How about I could fill the entire Comments section with times that I’ve trusted my head or especially my feelings over God’s word. If there’s anything I’ve learned…it’s this FEELINGS LIE. I am a very emotional person – will cry at the drop of a hat. I have also been know to rely too much on my own prideful brain. God gave us brains and feelings for a purpose, but neither of them are supposed to trump His Word. I’ve had to learn, painstakingly, to be in God’s word and to hold it up next to whatever I’m thinking or feeling. If they don’t match up then I need to trust God’s word over my heart, my emotions, or my gut. If they don’t match up with what God is saying then I need to throw them out as lies because like you so wonderfully pointed out “His ways are not my ways…His ways are HIGHER. Love these scriptures!
Sunday Blessings,
Bev
Beth Williams says
Bev,
We are two peas in a pod. I, too, cry at the drop of a hat! Yes, I rely way to much on my emotions. Sounds good, feels right, etc. Inquire of God-NO! Just seems right thing to do so go ahead God will make it ok!
Have a blessed Sunday Sweet Friend! 🙂
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Beth,
You’re so right…we can’t ask God to justify our emotions, we need to submit our emotions to His Word and Truth. Criers Anonymous 🙂
Blessings friend,
Bev xx
Miki Keil says
Thank you Dawn. I ditto that!!!
Let His Word be ‘a lamp unto feet, and a light unto my path’.
Sunday blessings to you as well
Joanna @ Modern Ruth Project says
I was thinking the same thing, Bev!!
Dawn Camp says
Bev, you’re so right that our feelings can sometimes lead us astray. What feels right isn’t always. 🙂
Michele Morin says
On this Sunday morning, a hymn comes to mind about my own gut instincts: “Prone to wander, LORD, I feel it . . .” Thanks for this encouragement to filter my gut through the grid of the Solid and the Unchanging.
Dawn Camp says
Michele, I love that hymn!
ELIZABETH-ANNE says
Not exactly, but I have a story that made me know from that point forward that angels, Christ, saints, etc speak in quiet voices which are easily tuned out by our own loud thoughts.
Nearly 40 years I was coming home from college and was tired. I was told by my boyfriend at the time, to never take the last car of the subway, go towards the front. I was tired from working and being in school all day and did not feel like getting up. I heard a very distinct voice ( and warning it turned out ) to get up and move to a bench closer to the front of the train. I was about to, but was too bushed, so ignored the voice. Never again. I went into the last car, and two guys got on the train a while later, whispered to each other and I knew I was done for, they were going to rip my chain off my neck. I got to the staircase and without saying a word, one took his foot and kicked me all the way down a flight of subway stairs. My glasses went flying, my head bashed into the bannister and I had so many black and blues on me that I was multi colored for weeks.
So this story is not exactly the theme of the blog, but felt it was a contribution worth making – I listen to small quiet voices to keep out of trouble.
Eunice says
WOW!!!! I recently decided (emotionally) to trust God with my mistake. Needless to say. . .I am suffering for it. My heart. . .even my gut. . .and God’s word was against the decision I made. But those darn emotions!!!!!
I am touched by your words which speak to me LOUD and CLEAR. HIS WAY IS THE ONLY WAY.
I am a social media addict and there’s a meme I love inquiring of someone about always taking the high road. . .and the response. . .”What makes you think I see two roads”?
I pray that we all develop the maturity to see God’s way as the only way.
So grateful for your ministry this morning. . .you have really touched me emotionally and esp. *spiritually*.
God bless you.
God bless us all.
Mary Hood says
Words of a song I wrote “roads are wide with twists and turns, I follow till my lesson’s learned, the narrow road is where I find my way”. I have taken wrong roads oh so many times listening to my own emotions and desires. And suffered consequences, and still. But God, who is rich in mercy, has unfailing love and leads me back with His word. Thank you for sharing this morning. You bless me.
Beth Williams says
Dawn,
I can’t remember a time exactly. I know for certain there have been numerous times in life when I just went with emotions & gut feelings without consulting the Lord. I pray this scripture over my husband daily: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.” Wanting him to put his faith in God and seek His wisdom. A good song to remember is “Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way-thou art the potter I am the clay.” Let Him lead!
Blessings 🙂
Amanda Snodgrass says
This is definitely one area in my life I’m working on! Learning to lean on God instead of what I think is best.
Kiki Bandilla says
Thank you Dawn…this speaks to me so clearly, yet I am just not always ready to hear and receive His direction. However, God always provides…provides the direction back to Him when we veer of course.
I have been working at a company that in MY mind was the PERFECT job. However, from the moment I showed up for the interview for a sales position, I experienced a strong visceral response unlike I had ever before that this was not the right place for me…but I pushed that aside because I had decided it was. The company was young and hip and the money was SUPPOSED to be huge!!! Fast forward to today, only 5 months later and I feel like I have been thru a war and am absolutely emotionally drained…and the money is a third of what they projected. I once again must acknowledge that I must listen to His prompting and TRUST in Him. He is my sustenance and He will provide all I need. His ways are higher and better than mine. I pray for discernment and sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, yet when He answers that prayer, I don’t want to abide because I am willful and stubborn. Sound familiar???? Wow…if we would not only listen and hear but also TRUST and respond. He knows the paths for us…paths of prosperity and joy and purpose. Thank you my heavenly Father for giving me a second and third and fourth chance…perhaps this time I will learn!
Sarah Schulz says
These verses sound so different to me now. When I was younger, I thought of them as you say at the end of your post, as a call to do things God’s way rather than paying attention to my emotions or desires. There’s certainly truth to that! But now I hear as well a call to trust God enough to take my thoughts, desires and emotions into account; to reject the law-based, fear-based way of living that I learned growing up in church; to believe that God will bring good out if everything, eventually, even if I screw up. Thank you for writing this–I’m not sure I would have seen this so clearly otherwise.
An says
Dawn, I thank you so much for these gentle words of admonishment that the Lord gives, the beautiful replies that help me to see better. Trust is before all else and oh how He teaches me to trust when I am stubborn, rebellious. He takes me through this difficult time of healing, helping various levels of me to grow and heal, reminding me that it is all about trusting His way, His time, His life in me to do what I can’t. How merciful He when though I still face the consequences of mine and others actions. Proverbs 3: 4-7 was something I first received as a new Christian-such a gift 🙂 May we all trust our good Father, our good Healer and Shepherd, our good Helper and Counselor, humbly listening to the One whose wisdom is best 🙂
NJ says
My husband and I have been crying out to the LORD, praying, reading HIS WORD, and seeking the best & godliest counsel that we can find, trying to discern GOD’s will if we should speak to my daughter and son-in-law directly about parenting practices which are very detrimental to their 1 1/2 year old daughter. All counsel we have received has been in complete agreement that these extreme practices have serious, long-term, lasting, detrimental consequences for her. However, my daughter is extremely angry and hateful to me, and very defensive, and has already cut me off for weeks at a time, accusing me on false charges. So especially because of her attitudes, all the counsel we have received has been to be very cautious if we try to speak to them about their daughter. I am very torn between different verses and Biblical examples as to what to do. I constantly have this baby in my mind and heart and a constant very sick feeling about what is happening to her and what we should do to help her. How do I know which way to go when HIS WORD has verses and principles that could lead in either direction? It is very dangerous territory and I want to do HIS WILL for this baby and all effected in this situation. Any help?
Sandra says
Dawn, I think of all the times that I react without thinking…saying something before I filter it through God’s Spirit…knowing even as the words are coming out of my mouth that I should not be saying them, yet I continue anyway. It’s when I get away from God’s word that this usually happens nowadays. When I stay in His word, I can feel His presence with me, and respond in a totally different way. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and I can really tell the difference when I am living in His presence. If only I could walk that close with Him every day for the rest of my life, but “life” seems to get in the way sometimes, and I don’t even realize it’s happening until my emotions erupt and I have to start all over again. All of these scriptures are ones I try to keep close. Thank you for this reminder!