SPIRITUAL GPS? GUARANTEED!

5   Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6   In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

7   Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

If you use a GPS, you have had the experience of being "redirected" or told to "turn around."   In Proverbs 3:5-7 the Lord gives spiritual GPS -- how we can know we have God's direction.   In verse 6, it says and HE will make your paths straight.   The rest of the passage gives instruction on how to receive the direction, but it guarantees that God will direct.   In fact, the construction is an intensive and could be translated "He Himself will make your paths straight."   This word was used of those who would travel in advance of royalty and make the path clear.  The Lord promises that if we live in accordance with Proverbs 3:5-7, He will provide the direction we need.  The KJV says, "He will direct your path."  But, what are the stipulations for getting the direction?

• I must be rightly related to the Savior.  
• Trust in the Lord with all your hear.   The word trust occurs in the Old Testament over 1500 times and it means to put your confidence in, or to put your faith in.   I can confide in God in every area of life, and I must do so to receive direction.  I should RELY on the Lord in every area of life.
• In all you ways acknowledge Him -- I must RECOGNIZE the Lord in every area of life.  I cannot compartmentalize and have the Lord only part of my life.   He wants me to acknowledge Him in every area -- public and private.
• Fear the Lord -- I must REVERENCE the Lord in every area of life.   It is not that I should be afraid of punishment; rather, i should fear violating the relationship I have with the Lord.   Perfect love casts out fear.  When my love is right, I can stand before Him with no fear.
• I must be rightly related to self
• Do not lean on your own understanding.   This word is used in Kings of someone leaning on a sword to support his weight.   I can't put my confidence in my ability to understand; rather, I must trust in the Lord with all my heart.   If I don't lean on God's understanding as found in His word, I have no other choice than to lean on my own.  Therefore, I should make it my aim to know His word and apply it in every area of life.  I must REJECT HUMAN UNDERSTANDING in favor of God's principles.
• Do not be wise in your own eyes.  I must also REJECT HUMAN PRIDE.   It is so easy to believe that I know what is right or best.  Instead, I should daily fight the pride that so easily manifests itself.  Perhaps my relying on my own understanding and being wise in my own eyes can be measured by my prayer life.  Do I seek His wisdom or do I rely on my own?   
• I must be properly related to sin.
• Depart from evil.   The word used here is one of several Hebrew words that can be translated "depart."  The focus here is change of direction.  If I have been going the wrong direction, I must not only stop, but reverse direction and go toward righteousness.   

If I follow these simple steps, God guarantees me spiritual GPS that is never out of date.