Acknowledging God … by Ashley Acosta

Feb 3rd, 2021 Acknowledging God … by Ashley Acosta

Today’s Passage – Leviticus 1 – 4 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 23 – 24; Proverbs 3; Psalms 16 – 20)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Deuteronomy 32:4

I want to take a detour today into Proverbs. Proverbs 3:5, 6 are very familiar verses to us as Christians. They were some of the first verses I learned as a child, and have helped shape my Christian walk for years. I turn to them often when I feel confused about the future, or not sure what decisions to make. God recently has opened my heart to something in these verses.

“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)

I want to focus on the end of verse 5, and beginning of verse 6. “…and lean not unto thine own understanding.” We do get understanding from the Bible, but Solomon is referring to “our” understanding, not wisdom that God has given us. Where did we get this understanding from? We were born into this world with none, so how have we adopted so much of “our” knowledge. Our understanding has come over time from education, experiences, peers, family, social media, news, or even celebrities. Our understanding is worldly and fleshly. Why are we leaning on this worldly and fleshly understanding? Have you ever stood in line at an amusement park on a hot summer day? You lean on the railings, or your friends because you’re so tired of standing. No matter how hard you try to get relief nothing works. Why do we lean on unreliable, faulty things? Priscilla Jane Owens penned the great hymn that says it perfectly

“We have an anchor that keeps the soul. Steadfast and sure while the billows role, fastened to the rock which cannot move, Grounded FIRM and DEEP in the saviors love.”

This brings me to the beginning of verse 6, and the main truth that God has showed me:

“In all thy ways acknowledge him.” (Proverbs 3:6a)

If on Sunday Morning, we all attended church and as Pastor got up to preach we all walked out of the building one by one, I think Pastor would be very confused and hurt. If we all decided that we didn’t acknowledge his position in our congregation, unfortunately he would have to leave and we would have to vote in a new pastor. A definition for acknowledgment is: “to recognize the rights or authority of.” Do I acknowledge God’s position? I have always seen that as acknowledging his presence, but am I acknowledging him as God? If his own children aren’t acknowledging him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, during this important time in America, how will others acknowledge him? I have been so convicted by this. Is God not God? Is he on the throne or isn’t he? When we lean on our own understanding, we are literally not acknowledging God as God. We are saying no Lord you aren’t powerful; you aren’t mighty, you aren’t all knowing. We are taking him out of his rightful place.

“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matthew 6:27)

“Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)

“God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” (Psalm 62:11)

The verse goes onto to say, and he shall direct thy paths. I think the future gets a lot clearer when we acknowledge God as God, and put him back in his rightful place.

My prayer is: “Lord, I acknowledge your power, I acknowledge your wisdom, I acknowledge your infinite mind, your all healing hands, your almighty truth. You. Are. God.