Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Proverbs 3:1-12 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
3 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust 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. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs chapter 3 gives us some very helpful advice about keeping wisdom in our lives. Alluding to Deuteronomy 6:6, verses 3:1 & 3:3 are talking about keeping God’s word close to us, preferably by memorizing key verses and teachings (that’s keeping them ‘in our hearts.’). This follows with some great verses to memorize, especially 3:5. When we fully trust in the Lord, we give God credit for everything (3:6), we give to God first, instead of giving him our leftovers (3:9), and we welcome God’s correction as a sign that he loves us enough to discipline us when we mess up, and thereby lead us to wiser actions in the future (3:11-12). Pick a verse from this section, memorize it, and try to repeat it to yourself many times today.