Biblical Keys To Direction

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

One must always keep the sovereignty of God in mind simply because we have a tendency to want to do things the way we want to, when we want to and how we want to.  However, the word of God plainly lets us know and see through various illustrations:

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

It would behoove us to rely upon the wisdom of God; seek His guidance in all that we do.  God let's us know that this is good advice and strongly encouraged.  In the natural world, keys open doors. In the spiritual world, God has provided keys to open the door and give us access to His will. The keys are found in the book 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

Let's consider this passage of scripture and the keys that it contains:

®     Trust

Do not fear what God may ask of you. Know that His plan for you is best. Certainly, men should be able to trust one who would give His only Son to die for them. Your trust must be in the Lord and not in man:  

King David's trust was in God:

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.  Psalms 20:7

The young prophet Jeremiah spoke the words of God:

Thus saith the Lord, Cursed by be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.   Jeremiah 17:5

®     Lean Not To Your Own Understanding

Do not depend on your own human reasoning. This does not mean there is no place for intelligent judgment. The book of Proverbs is filled with commands to use understanding and common sense. God is not saying you should abandon sound judgment. He is simply saying do not depend solely on human reasoning when you are seeking the will of God.

When King David was returning the ark to Jerusalem, He did not ask God for direction. He leaned solely on his own understanding and started to move the ark in what he felt was the most practical way possible: 



Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:1-7 

 But this was not God's way and judgment fell. It was God's will to bring the ark back to Jerusalem, but David had not aligned God's will with His way. This is an important principle of guidance.

®     In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him

To acknowledge God in all ways is to honor Him in thought, word, and deed. Give Him first place in your life:  

That in all things He might have the preeminence.  Colossians 1:18

Joshua made a serious mistake when "he asked not counsel of the mouth of the Lord" concerning a treaty with the Gibeonites

 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.  Joshua 9:14   

His decision resulted in an alliance with an ungodly nation, something which was forbidden by God.   Joshua 9

These 3 keys. . .

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. . .

Lean not to thine own understanding. . .

In all thy ways acknowledge Him. . ..

open the door. . .  And He shall direct thy paths.

Choose The Way Of Wisdom

In decisions specifically dealt with in the written Word of God, you must always make a decision consistent with the revealed Word. In other decisions, after prayer, study of the Word, listening to the voice of the Spirit, seeking godly counsel, and analyzing the circumstances, you can make a choice according to "the way of wisdom".    If you prayed for wisdom from God, now you make a choice on the basis of that wisdom.)

The way of wisdom is the option in any decision which offers the greatest opportunity for spiritual advancement in every area of life. It is the option in harmony with what God has revealed through prayer, the written Word, the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, and godly counsel.

Ability to recognize the way of wisdom increases through spiritual maturity:  

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God: and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 
Hebrews 5:12-14

Spiritual maturity comes from a relationship with God that includes faith, trust, prayer, meditation as well as application in His written Word.




Biblical Studies

01/11/17
06/19/20