How to avoid making a trainwreck out of your life.

I once read a story about the former heavy weight champion of the world, Muhammad Ali. He was flying to an engagement and found himself living up to his nickname, “The Louisville Lip.” The plane came into some bad weather and encountered bad turbulence which tossed it about. The pilot turned on the seat belt light signaling that passengers stay in their seat with their seat belt buckled. All the other passengers were still and quite, many were praying for deliverance. But not Ali, He even refused to put on his seat belt. Noticing this, a flight attendant approached him and requested he follow the captain’s order and put on his seat belt. Ali audaciously responded, “Superman don’t need no seat belt.” The flight attendant did not miss a beat and replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane either.”

We regard ourselves in such high esteem that you would think we were super humans or even worse God Himself. Our lives become a train wreck when we take measure into our own hands and leave God out of the equation.

CPS: If you want to avoid making a train wreck out of your life trust God during your decision making, acknowledge Him in your conduct, and if you get off track immediately trun back to Him!

I. Trust God as we make our decision. (5)

In verse 5 there is a contrast between God’s wisdom and your wisdom. If you want to make a train wreck of your life trust your wisdom! God has a plan for your life, it is better than our plan. TRUST HIM!

Trust is the Hebrew verb bā·ṭǎḥ which means believe to the point of complete reliance.

ILL: There is a story about a group of scientist who were exploring a remote region of the alps in search of a new species of flowers. One day while looking through binoculars they noticed a flower of such beauty and rarity that its value was incalculable to science. The flower laid deep in a ravine and the only way to it was by being lowered by rope off a steep cliff. A curious young boy stood near by watching the scientist, they offered to pay him well if agreed to be lowered over the cliff and retrieve the beautiful flower. The boy took one look down into the deep ravine and said “wait a few minutes I’ll be right back.” He shortly returned with an older man and approached the scientist saying I’ll go down and get that flower for you BUT ONLY IF HE HOLDS THE ROPE. The scientist asked the boy who the man was, he answered, “he is my dad.”

The boy completely trusted his father knowing that no matter what; his father would not to let go of that rope.

We are to Trust God the Father in the same manner!

A. Trust God’s for Salvation

Talk about a train wreck, live a godless life and suffer those consequences.

B. Trust God in everyday life

“Father knows best.” (Me, fallible) God knows whats best for us after all He is omniscient.

NOTE CONTRAST

Heart is the Hebrew noun lēḇ in Hebrew think the heart is the inner part of your being. It is your volition, the place where your thoughts and emotions come from. Where you decisions are made!

Lean is the Hebrew verb šā·ʿǎn it means rely on or to rest/depend upon an object to the point of being in jeopardy if the object fails.

ILL: Leaning on Kaylee’s Microphone stand.

Proverbs 28:26a “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.”

Understanding (bî·nā) insight, discernment - skillfully react to life situations

Application: Make life’s decisions according to God’s Wisdom!

1. Prayer James 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

2. Obedience to Scripture

II. Acknowledge God in our conduct. (6)

(NB) To think about God in all your ways is to invite His presence into all daily activities!

A. Seeking God’s Will

Acknowledge (Verb) yā·ḏǎʿ - to make known or to notice. Some translations (SEEK) Ways (noun) dě·rěḵ means conduct or what is done.

ILL: Several years ago while at a meeting of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson, former 2nd baseman for the New York Yankees offered this prayer. “Dear God, your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else, Amen”

B. Submitting to God’s Will

ILL: Shortly after joining the Navy, the new recruit asked his officer for a pass so he could attend a wedding. The officer gave him the pass, but informed the young man he would have to be back by 7 p.m. Sunday. “You don’t understand, sir,” said the recruit. “I’m in the wedding.” “No, you don’t understand,” the officer shot back. “You’re in the Navy!”

You belong to God, Jesus bought you! We submit because He is Lord! As Abraham Kuyper, the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands correctly said: “There is not an inch of any sphere of life of which Jesus Christ the Lord does not say, “Mine.”

C. God’s Promise to clear our paths

Direct is yâshar , it means to make straight.

Is. 40:3-4 “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill shall be made low: And the crooked shall be made straight, And the rough places plain.”

When we seek and submit to God’s will… His will becomes more and more evident.

Application: Fully trust Him! ????A wife who is 85% faithful to her husband is not faithful at all. There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ.????

III. Turn to God when we get off track.

When we find ourselves leaning on our own wisdom we must turn away it and turn to God! REPENT!

A. Fear God (motivation)

1. Fear

We view God only as loving but He is to be feared because He is holy and just!

2. Revere

ILL: In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis, two young girls, Susan and Lucy, are getting ready to meet Aslan the lion, who is a figure of Christ. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, two animal guides who can speak, get the children ready for the encounter. “Ooh,” said Susan, “I thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “That you will, dearie,” said Mrs. Beaver. “And make no mistake, if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”“Then isn’t he safe?” said Lucy. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”

B. Repent

Depart (sûr)turn aside, i.e., make linear movement in a direction, with a focus that there is a change in direction from a course or path. The Idea of repentance.

God is to be feared but He is so good that He allows us to repent and get back on course again!

C. God’s Promise

Its good for the entire person!

Conclusion: Our lives become a train wreck when we trust ourselves! God has a plan for us lets trust Him, Seek Him in all we do, and when we fall off course return to Him immediately!