Wisdom literature of the Bible has great depth. I try to practice a “Proverb a day” as part of my daily devotion. Today is the 15th of the month so I am in Proverbs 15. I have read this chapter at least 12 times a year for the last 18-21 years, minus a few days here and there. Each time I read it verse 1 pops out at me- “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” The Lord led me to memorize this verse in a time when my mouth would spill out backlash at anyone or anything I didn’t agree with. In difficult situations the Holy Spirit has brought this to memory, supernaturally stopping me from making a fool of myself and my God. Each time I read Proverbs 15 I also take in new insight, usually for that very day. As I was reading today one verse stopped me in my tracks. Proverbs 15.3 says- “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” There can be much applied from this verse. For me, for today, He has reminded me that He sees it all.
In Discipleship you work at helping people draw closer to God. In doing so, you help the disciple remove obstacles that hinder his or her walk with the Lord. One obstacle today can be summed up in one word: others. People worry about what others are or are not doing. They may overly concern themselves about what another person may do to them or may be plotting to do to them. This seriously hinders your fellowship with the Lord and with others in your church, which is negatively affecting your growth. I mention this because I too can be drowned by my fleshly thoughts and turn inward in my thinking. This inward focus is flesh and flesh is death!
“Be careful for nothing” (Philippians 4.6) Paul said. How:
First, realize the truth in this passage… HE KNOWS. He knows everything. He sees everything. He is aware of everything. He sees my actions and heart, and their actions and heart. The issue isn’t what I am doing or not doing or what they are doing or not doing; the issue is: Do I trust Him? So when the devil or your own weak flesh observes something you think is out of bounds, tell yourself this truth: HE KNOWS.
Secondly, realize the truth… HE CARES. 1 Peter 5.7 says- “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” He knows and He cares. When you are in a hurt, depressed or paranoid state it is hard to accept the truth that He is aware and involved in my circumstance. We have to conclude because of the 1 Peter 5.7 truth, He does care and therefore is involved.
In our spirit, we have to reconcile the implication of these truths: He knows and He cares, then why am I not trusting Him? We can know intellectually the concrete facts of this passage and truly conceive that God is aware of our circumstances and wants to be involved. Have those intellectual facts dropped 12 inches into your heart? Have you decided, based upon these facts, to trust Him with a particular circumstance? This is believing based upon Faith! Have you spoken with Him and handed over the keys? “Casting” has an appropriate “ing” on the end. Meaning, you may have to do this more than once. You have to let go and give this to Him. You have to trust that His knowledge of the situation and ability to carry out a desired outcome is what is best for you.
He knows and He cares, but do you trust Him?