How to Stop Leaning On Your Own Understanding

July 12

~ Today’s hand-painted Scripture Art and mini Bible study in Proverbs 3:5-6 are designed to search for clues on HOW to stop leaning on your own understanding. ~

*This post may contain affiliate links. To learn more, click here.

New Here?
Click to snag 7 Welcome Gifts!

I checked my “running list” of subscriber-requested verses as I prayed about which verse to hand-letter (and study) next. After settling on Proverbs 3:5-6, the thought struck me that these were probably some of the most popular verses of all time. My guess was top 10 – if not top 5.

Well, there’s one way to find out!

A quick internet search popped up this article on Bible Gateway about the top 10 most-searched verses of 2015 (in the U.S.). Sure enough, these verses were numbers 8 and 10.

Then I hunted for a more recent list and I found this list for 2021. The verses had fallen to numbers 25 and 26.

That’s a pretty big fall in ranking.

I pondered what that could mean.

Today’s verses are …

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB): 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 your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Scripture Art — *Purchase this Proverbs 3:5-6 printable HERE*

Hmmm … Is it going out of style to trust in the Lord instead of our own understanding?

Do we even attempt to figure out how to do that?

Maybe it’s just easier to do our own thing rather than sit and wait at His feet to discern His direction.

We don’t like to wait for very long.

Not to mention, quick decisions are celebrated in this fast-paced world.

Today, I invite you to slow down and sit with these verses for a while. Set a timer for 10 minutes if you have to. Print them out and stick them to the bathroom mirror if it helps.

Just don’t rush. Even if these verses are familiar.

Especially if they are familiar!

Why?

Just take a look at the riches in the verses in front of them …

Proverbs 3:1-4 (NASB): My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

Let’s take the time today to sit with Jesus so …
1. We won’t forget His teaching. (v. 1)
2. It will put our hearts in the right place. (v. 1)
3. It will give us the desire to keep His commandments. (v. 1)

And then our obedience to His commands will …
4. Add length to our lives. (v. 2)
5. Give us peace. (v. 2)
6. Give us the desire to be kind. (v. 3)
7. Give us the desire for even more truth. (v. 3)
8. Give us favor with God and people. (v. 4)
9. Give us a good reputation. (v. 4)

Is it going out of style to trust in the Lord and not lean on your own understanding? Do we even attempt to figure out how to live out Proverbs 3:5-6?

That is a pretty amazing list of benefits for spending time with God – for writing His Word on the tablet of our hearts. (Of course, you had to know I would love that part!)

But beyond the what’s-in-it-for-us benefits is the bonus that it will change our hearts. We may start out reading our Bibles for the benefits, but our diligence will grow into wanting to read it for a different reason – so we can spend time with God. Just like we enjoy spending time with a friend.

We’ll look forward to it – and want to ask His advice.

We’ll actually want to …

trust in the Lord with all our hearts and NOT lean on our own understanding.

The desire will increase as our faith grows.

And our faith grows as we spend time with God in His Word.

We’ll want to …

acknowledge Him in all our ways, And He will make our paths straight.

And straight paths will keep us away from evil.

As we see in the verses following today’s verses …

Proverbs 3:7-8 (NASB): Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

These bring us back to … Do not be wise in your own eyes. Do not lean on your own understanding.