There are 22 days, 9 hours, 59 minutes and 28, 27, 26 seconds until Christmas Day. Before this fact compels you to rush off to the mall, I want to remind you of a verse that can produce peace in your soul and mine this holiday. It’s a familiar one; a verse we are often quick to quote and slow to apply, and not one we usually associate with Christmas. It’s Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways acknowledge him.” Charles Bridges’ comments provide fresh insight into this little verse. Consider them carefully.
"Take one step at a time, every step under Divine warrant and direction. Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel. He loves to be consulted...Consider no circumstances too clear to need his direction. In all thy ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme. Who of us has not found the unspeakable 'peace' of bringing to God matters too minute or individual to be entrusted to the most confidential ear?"
Proverbs 3:6 is our go-to verse when we’re faced with a big decision. We are often quick to acknowledge the Lord and seek His guidance in extraordinary situations. However, we assume we can “carry on…the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel.” God calls this self-idolatry and pride.
How often I live as if I don’t need God in order to clean my bathroom, or discipline the boys, or find that perfect gift for my mother-in-law, or put up Christmas decorations—as if I am sufficient in and of my self to handle most things! My lack of dependence upon God is pronounced in these “ordinary matters.”
And yet, as Mr. Bridges points out, “God loves to be consulted…no circumstance [is] too clear to need his direction!” He wants us to bring to him all our little decisions, our minor frustrations, our small dilemmas. He doesn’t just tolerate our questions—God LOVES to be consulted! Hasn’t he commanded us to acknowledge Him in all our ways?
The Christmas countdown may tempt you to anxiety, but as Christians, we are truly meant to experience peace in our souls—not just at Christmas, but every day, the whole year through. This precious, “unspeakable peace,” comes when we bring to God all of the ordinary matters of our day.
So what were you going to do next? Before you get up from your computer, pause, read this verse and quote again, and acknowledge Him. Unspeakable peace can be yours for the rest of the day.
