Thoughts from Proverbs 3

My devotional reading and meditation will continue from Proverbs for one more month. Today I will share a few brief thoughts about some verses that stood out to me from Proverbs 3.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own
understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. (HCSB)

With all my heart and in all my ways are two key phrases that jump out at me. God want us to trust him with our whole being. God doesn't want half-hearted devotion. He calls us to love him with all our heart, all our mind and all our strength. He promises that He will guide us as we seek him with all our hearts.

Proverbs 3:7-8

Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones. (HCSB)

A parallel passage to verses 3:5-6 with emphasis on the relationship of one’s spiritual and moral health to one's physical health.

I am not to conduct myself in pride or arrogant stubbornness. Pride will block God's wisdom and guidance. (see vv. 5-6). Rather, than insist on doing what I want, when I want or how I want, I am to reverence the Lord and depart (flee) sin. A life lived in awe of and dependence upon God and which flees sin will experience many positive effects in health and inner renewal.

Sin always has a negative impact on one’s health psychologically and physically. Psychologists and psychiatrists know that many people would experience dramatic improvements in their health if they would let go of anger, bitterness, guilt (real or perceived), worry, and a host of other sins. And this list does not even take into consideration the effects of sinful actions like abuse, immorality, and habits that hurt our bodies directly or indirectly.