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 The goal this year is to have our minds completely overhauled by the Word of God. He's calling us to not lean on our own understanding but to stay in the Word. God's will is laid out in the Bible. When we drift away from the Word we begin to rely on our own finite guidance. "Walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind" (Ephesians 4:17b). It is a useless endeavor to lean on your own understanding; instead seek God's wisdom and He will make your path clear.

God has called us to walk in a manner worthy of Him. "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Ephesians 4:23-24). You have been given the mind of Christ and as you press through distraction and stay in the Word, your walk will be strengthened.

We don't always know what people around us are going through, so it's important to have the truth of God ready on our lips to encourage someone who needs it (Ephesians 4:25). Let the Scriptures marinate in you, so that what comes out of your mouth gives grace to others (Ephesians 4:29).

Ask God for guidance concerning everything. The Word needs to have preeminence in our decision-making, in our outlook on life, in our dreams and hopes. We don't know what's up ahead in the different days and seasons—but God does. Stay in the Word daily and it'll be a different world for you by this time next year.

Following Jesus,
Pastor Jeff







© 2008 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.