March 2: Lean Not on Your Own Understanding

You’ve always been good at figuring things out. That’s part of the problem.

Solomon says to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Leaning is what you do when you put your weight on something. A cane. A railing. A wall. If what you lean on is solid, it holds you up. If it isn’t, you fall.

Most drinkers have leaned hard on their own understanding. You had a plan for managing your drinking. A plan for hiding it. A plan for fixing the damage. Each plan made sense at the time. You were clever. And somehow, your best thinking kept leading back to a drink.

People in recovery sometimes say, “My best thinking got me here.” It’s a little joke with a lot of truth in it. Your own understanding isn’t useless. But when it comes to alcohol, it has a blind spot. It keeps leaning on something that won’t hold.

Step Three is about shifting your weight. Deciding to trust God’s direction over your own schemes. Not turning off your brain, but submitting it. Using your mind to seek God’s will instead of to justify your own.

What does that look like on a regular day? It might mean praying before a decision instead of after. Asking, “God, what would You have me do here?” It might mean running a big choice past a sponsor or a wise friend before acting. It might mean noticing when you’re scheming, trying to control how something turns out, and stopping to hand it over.

The promise attached is a good one. He will make your paths straight. Not easy, necessarily. But straight. Less winding back to the same old places.

Today, try leaning a little less on your own understanding. See if the path straightens.

One thing today

Before one decision today, big or small, stop and pray: “God, what would You have me do?” Then wait a moment before you act.

A prayer

Lord, I’ve leaned on my own understanding for too long. It hasn’t held. I’m putting my weight on You. Make my path straight today.

Learn more about Step Three.

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