Day 17 — “Trust and Obey”

Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

5Trust 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 straight your paths.

Devotional Thought:

The pride of life convinces us that we know what is best for our lives. It tells us to rely on our own understanding, trust our own instincts, and chart our own course. But Scripture calls us to a different way — a way of trust and obedience.

Trusting the Lord means surrendering the need to have everything figured out. It means laying down our timelines, our preferences, and our control. Obedience means following God’s direction even when it doesn’t make sense to us in the moment.

The pride of life resists both. It says, “I’ll follow God as long as it aligns with my plans.” But true surrender says, “I will follow God even when I don’t understand His plan.”

Fasting humbles our confidence in ourselves. It reminds us that we are not self-sufficient and not self-directed. It softens our hearts so we can hear God’s voice more clearly and respond more quickly.

When we trust the Lord fully, He promises to direct our paths. Not always immediately. Not always in the way we expect. But always faithfully.

Today, we choose to trust God’s wisdom over our own understanding.

Prayer Focus:

• Ask the Lord to reveal areas where you have leaned on your own understanding

• Pray for grace to trust God’s direction even when it’s unclear

• Surrender your plans, timelines, and expectations to the Lord

• Ask God to lead you into obedient steps of faith

Prayer:

“Lord, I trust You more than my own understanding. I surrender my plans and my need for control. Lead my steps and direct my path. Teach me to walk in obedience and faith. I choose Your wisdom over my own. Amen.”