“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge God, and God will direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 

Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:

• This passage, from the section titled “Trust in the Lord,” offers much wisdom about discerning the difference between God’s role and ours.
• The Book of Proverbs is treasured because it teaches us how to develop a spiritually mature, emotionally healthy character. Imagine it as an ancient “Do-This-Not-That” compendium still applicable in our 21^st century lives.
• Acknowledging God in all ways means including God in every aspect of our lives — emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual.
• When we trust in God, we invest our whole self in following God first, knowing that God is in the midst of whatever is occurring around or within us. Jesus and other spiritual masters know this, so they rely on divine guidance, not just their own personal knowledge and intelligence. And so can we.
• Intuition is the voice of God within us, and is often described as our still, small voice or sixth (6^th) sense. It’s our ability to know or feel something without reason, proof, or intellect.  And neuroscientists now know that it functions through a body-mind-spirit connection, a conscious feeling we can’t always articulate or explain.
• We nurture our intuition best when we stop endless scrolling, searching, and listing, and create quiet time and space to listen.
• As Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Reverend Mpho Tutu van Furth teach in their 1989 book Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference: We can “discern the voice that calls us to our best selves from among the many voices that compete for our attention, . . . a quiet, constant voice that guides us to goodness. The voice of God is an affirming voice. It does not reduce us or belittle us.  It seeks to enhance life.  It speaks on behalf of life.  The voice of God speaks up on behalf of good.”

Contemplation Questions:

As you reflect on your life and circumstances, ask yourself:

• In what ways do I notice the voice of God speaking to me?
  • List, word map, or illustrate whatever ways you notice, even if they seem silly or insignificant.

• When have I acted on reasoning or intellect alone, and ignored my intuition?
  • List, word map, or illustrate:
    • a situation.
    • what you felt.
    • what you noticed.
    • what occurred.

• When have I acted on my intuition, despite reason or intellect?
  • List, word map, or illustrate:
    • a situation.
    • what you felt.
    • what you noticed.
    • what occurred.

• When I consider these experiences, what are at least three (3) ways I can make more time and space to hear the voice of God, my still, small voice, so I continually nurture my intuition?
  • List, word map, or illustrate as much as you can imagine.

• Who is at least one (1) trusted person in my life who can encourage and remind me to trust my intuition?
  • List, word map, or illustrate who they are.
  • Then, list, word map, or illustrate what you’ll do to continually connect with them.

• Who is at least one (1) person I can encourage and remind to trust their intuition?
  • List, word map, or illustrate who they are.
  • Then, list, word map, or illustrate what you’ll do to continually connect with them.

Take as much time as you like using this devotional.  Even if you can’t be still, find some quiet time when you can focus on your breath, tune into your body, and notice your feelings.  Remember: There’s nothing to study.  Just make space to listen to the voice of God within you.  Then, let that divine guidance, your intuition, illumine your way.

© 2022 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.