Today’s scripture: Proverbs 16:1-8 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (John Seksay):
Have you ever met a person who wanted to get things wrong? I haven’t. Even when I’ve seen or known people who have done things wrong (myself included), they were moved by a strong sense that what they were doing was right for them at the moment. Even when I hit my thumb with the hammer, I sincerely believed that I was going to drive the nail to its proper place!
So, how do things go so wrong? Today’s passage seems to be wrestling with this topic. I put two translations of each verse together to help me have a wider sense of what the words were trying to say.
NRSV: “The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, buy the Lord weighs the spirit.”
MESSAGE: “Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word. Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good.”
How focused are we on how we make our decisions? What influence is in the driver’s seat for our actions? The word “motive” has the same linguistic root as “motor.” It is the propelling force driving the action. Every impelling idea is a fairly unique mix of reason and emotion, and not every mix is something you want in your motor! For me, I need to know the rational and emotional power sources I am unleashing before I put myself in gear, so to speak. When I get the right focus, I tend to filter out most of the impulses that would happily launch me over the nearest cliff. When I don’t, I can just about guarantee that my social driving insurance (trustworthiness, credibility, happiness, self-worth) will take a hit and I won’t be the only one injured.
I have also never met a person who had no regrets about some decision or action that they made in the past (count me in again!) The phrase “Nobody’s perfect” often sums up our attitude to our penchant for foolish mistakes. But if we are absolving ourselves from responsibility to learn from the mistake, then we are setting ourselves up to repeat the error. Unless we apply the brakes, we’ll be back up a similar tree! The hammer doesn’t care how many times my thumb gets smashed, but my thumb sure does!
Sometimes it’s just as important to know when to stop as when to start. That is why I find Be Still and Know so essential. It does me worlds of good to get outside my own head and encounter two important things: God’s Word and other points of view. These are some of the finest brake pads and brake shoes in the universe!
I’m much less likely to crash and burn if I use them to control my speed so I hold to the right road.
NRSV: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
MESSAGE: “Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place.”
So now I know whose hands should be on the wheel! God will help keep me on the road of my Soul Care Plan!
Thought for the day: Who’s in the driver’s seat today? Is your soul ready for the road, or do you need to get some extra maintenance done?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.