Proverbs 5:21 for a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths

I was coming out of the gents in a red Cross hall in the Highlands of Scotland. I stopped to say hello to the man who had been putting on a one-man play on the life of C. T. Studd, and famous missionary. We had a conversation and I asked him what he did, and he explained about his life as a missionary in Honduras. I think I thought Honduras was in Africa at that moment.

I told him that his life sounded exciting and that I was a new Christian. He invited me to come to Honduras and go on a trip with him, and I said yes because I was polite now that I was a Christian. I had no idea of the impact of that yes over the next twenty-plus years.

Around two months later I landed at La Ceiba airport, late at night. As we disembarked it was clear that this was not the airport I was used to.

It would have been around the year 1990. There was a small shed in the distance that was lit with oil lamps and surrounded by armed soldiers (they may have been police but they were dressed like soldiers in my thinking). There was lots of shouting and pushing and jostling. Bags were handled onto tables and my bag was emptied. I had no idea what anyone was saying to me, whether it was a question or a comment, and I smiled weakly with frozen emotions and clenched cheeks. I could see what looked like bullet holes in the building wall facing the runway. Fear was knocking gently at the door of my thoughts.

Finally, I was through and was met by Richard, one of John’s great friends and a missionary also. We drove through a tropical storm for hours to get to Trujillo where he lived in a small wooden house with a corrugated iron sheet roof. It was hard to talk inside because of the noise of the rain on the roof.

I slept on the floor that night. I woke up at one point thinking someone was stroking my hair, but it was only a giant cockroach sitting on my head.

At first light, the rain had stopped and I was up, tiptoeing around the house, tidying up my sleeping area, and then stepping out of what looked like the back door.

There was sand under my feet and early morning sun warmth on my back. It felt so nice. I could see a palm tree. I took another few steps past a short fence and then I was on a half-moon beach that went for ages in each direction. And there was the Caribbean Sea lapping at my feet. The water was warm. This was amazing to me, warm seawater. I sat in the shallows and allowed the small rippling waves to wash over me and to move me around on the sand. I saw a large stingray sitting in the shallows nearby. Neither of us moved for at least thirty minutes. I sensed God’s love washing over me, just as the waves did, and never wanted those moments to end. Day one, and I’m hooked. Adventures ahoy!

 

KNOWLEDGE

When your parent or parents came to your school sports or drama events, it brought an extra edge to your performance. You knew their eyes were on you, and you wanted them to be ever so proud of you. In the big moments, you felt their presence, and this brought focus, determination and extra strong willpower.

As we read this short portion of ancient sanctified writing, we want to try to catch the heart of the writer and well as the context of the writing.

How does the thought of having the eyes of the creator of the universe always on you, make you feel right now? Do you cringe, put your head under the pillow, sigh, or maybe just freeze? What is the lens you are seeing this thought through – what do you think is the motive of this ever-present, ever watching, God, because that’s the root cause of how you feel when you read and ponder on this thought?

What if God’s intention is to help smooth out your way, to make your path through life straighter, more effective and the source of greater rewards? The places where you baulk will actually bring balance, the moments of struggle generate strength and the deeper trenches of life release tenacity.

God’s eyes are not just on you, they are for you, they believe in you, they know your potential, understand your struggle, and encourage your victory.

 

UNDERSTANDING

Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?

The Hebrew word for “ways” here is pronounced as “derek” and this word appears 669 times in the old testament. Some of the English words used to translate this in the ESV include, way; journey; wherever; roadside; direction; distances; undertakings; conduct; course; trackless waste; midcourse; towards; and, pathway. For us reading verse 21, we are considering the figurative idea of our conduct and our way of life.

 

WISDOM  – what can you do to encourage others in their hard seasons?

 

STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Developer sees the potential in others and looks for ways to help unlock that potential, coming alongside and celebrating even the smallest of victories and loving every step of progress. Your patience and passion and phenomenal assets. Be selective in who you choose to help, and beware of being drawn into long-lasting situations that either is seriously low or have no return.

 

Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [a champions conduct is brought to the attention of his intimate God, who helps and encourages through the ups and downs]

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to use all I have to help others on their journey, so their ways may be pleasing for them and for you. Thank you.

 

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