His will taking root in our lives

I've been hanging out in the Proverbs over these past few days. Wow, how I've forgotten the riches that are in Proverbs. 

Where ( typed that word and then went to do something else and forgot what I was going to write, so moving on )

oh, I remember, I was going to say "where do I start?" I've only made it through the first four chapters of the Proverbs, and I've read the Proverbs before but never before have they impacted me the way it has this time. 

I guess I'll choose one thing and go with it:

Proverbs 3:6 --

"Seek his will in all you do, 

and he will show you which path to take" (that's the NLT)

or 

"In all your ways acknowledge Him

And He will make your paths straight" (that's NASB)

(disclaimer: I like to study these two versions side by side. I find that the NLT can speak to my heart and the NASB can speak to my mind and intellect.)

This morning, God revealed to me that when we find Him and acknowledge Him in all that we do, He will help us succeed. He wants His name to be glorified and when our motive for doing what we do is to glorify Him, why wouldn't He be on our side and help us do what we want, as it lines up with His will. The tough part is discerning if/how/when it is His will and if/when/how and it our own will with our own selfish motives. 

So, taking that, a few chapters later I found this:

Proverbs 4:23 --

"Guard your heart above all else, 

for it determines the course of your life."  (NLT)

or 

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, 

For from it flow the springs of life" (NASB)

From what I've discovered, we will spend the most time doing things that we love; we will do things that our hearts are drawn to doing. If we aren't careful in guarding our hearts with all diligence -- meaning, our hearts will be revealed in the things that we spend our most time doing -- and keeping our hearts focused on what God loves and His purpose/will and glory, then it's very likely that our hearts will become distracted and drawn to things of this world; things that don't bring glory to our Lord and essentially, things that aren't good for our being. 

That was a lot of babbling. That last sentence was a long one, with lots of part, kind of like Paul when he goes on and on in some of his Epistles. Oh well. 

So, as we move forward, or as I move forward, my goal is to keep my heart focused on the things of Christ, things that He approves of, things that glorify Him. As I do this, the promise found in Proverbs 3:6 will prayerfully take root in my life: that God will make my paths straight, or give me success, as I seek His will, find it and live it out. 

Now, this is will not be easy.