In life, there are things we must do and there are things we don’t do. It takes wisdom to know and differentiate between them. Sometimes, people focus on what they are doing but forget that there are some times that God has called them not to do. Have you ever asked yourself what you must not do? When you know the answer you are operating in wisdom.
One of the ways to free yourself of stress or unhealthy or unreasonable expectations is to know what you shouldn’t be doing. That tells me that you cannot do everything, you must not do everything. You are created to do everything because trying or wanting to do everything is the beginning of foolishness. You will eventually tire yourself out prematurely. You will not last. You will be frustrated and eventually, you will burn out.
Many people are burned out today. They are like disaster going somewhere to happen because of the way they act, speak, or do things. They are weary and not enjoying anymore. They don’t care anymore. They are full of activities but no progress. They are just going with the flow. They have lost touch with reality. It is just a matter of time that they will break down.
If you want to operate in God’s wisdom, the Bible is very clear on what you must not do. It says don’t be wise in your own eyes or rely on your own understanding. The Living Translation says “don’t be impressed by your own wisdom.” The Message version says “don’t assume that you know it all.” Don’t be conceited. Don’t be arrogant. Don’t forget God. Don’t embrace evil. Don’t desire what is wrong.
"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil" (Pro 3:5-7, AMPC).
Do you assume you know it all? Do you appear to be wise in your own eyes? The word of God is saying today don’t. You cannot trust God completely by relying on yourself. You cannot rely on God by leaning on what you think you know. When you rely on your own wisdom, you are invariably ruling God out of your life.
Some of us need to repent regarding the errors of our ways. We need to repent for wanting to do life by ourselves without God. Even Jesus could not do that. He could not make a decision, choose, reach a logical conclusion, judge, heal or anything that is worth doing without God. In His discourse He once said; “I can do nothing of myself” (Jn 5: 30). In His message on the vine and the branches, He categorically states that “without me you can do nothing” (Jn15: 5). Yet, many of us want to do the opposite and we want to prove to Him that He is wrong and we are right. We want to convince Him that we can figure things out on our own. The question is: who is fooling who?
If He says we cannot do anything without Him, I won’t even try. I won’t want to waste my time, energy, resources, efforts, strength, stamina, and knowledge to figure things out when I have access to His wisdom.
Don’t be conceited to think that you don’t need God if you want to act wisely. When you trust in the Lord, you will learn His ways and as you adopt His ways you will be able to fulfil His counsel. Remember that we have been called to have dominion and you need wisdom to do that. This is the blessedness of wisdom:
"Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics; I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out. With my help, leaders rule, and lawmakers legislate fairly; with my help, governors govern, along with all in legitimate authority" (Pro 8: 14-16, the Message).
I want to encourage you today to listen to the voice of reason. Trust God for your life and don’t rely on what you think you know. He is your present help in the time of trouble.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for being clear in your word regarding my life, I repent today of doing what I shouldn’t be doing. I repent of being wise in my own eyes. I pray for the grace to trust and lean on your complete. I believe that with you, I can do all things in Jesus’ name. Amen!
