Leaning on His Understanding

It has been a few days, sorry about the tardiness...ENJOY!
Lately the Lord has been working on an area of my heart. He is showing me that I don't know everything. It's crazy, really, when I was fifteen I knew that I knew everything. Then I turned twenty and I realized how wrong I was, because I was presently that much wiser and more knowledgeable (I again knew everything). At twenty six, things have unfortunately not changed much. And this is apparently something that God thinks is necessary to cleanse me of. He is showing me that I don't know squat.
Proverbs chapter 3 is awesome for those of us that are duped into thinking that we've got all of our philosophies under control. Basically, it is only by leaning on His understanding that will see us through the quagmire of life. I'm realizing that in order to fully become dependent on God that I need to embrace this notion of humility (that His wisdom and understanding and strength are what will set my feet on the steadfast ground).
The chapter says that we need to lean on Him, and not ourselves, and that He will guide our step. Perhaps even into the refining fire of discipline, because "For whom the LORD corrects He loves." So I commit to follow Him wherever it is that He plans on taking me. If He takes me into prosperity than I will praise His name for the blessings; and if He takes me into adversity than I will praise His name for loving me to the point of purifying my heart (even though it is usually quite painful) for the purpose of drawing me closer in intimacy with Him.
No matter where He leads, I will follow. 'Though I walk into the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil...' So, my prayer is this: 'Lord, may I lean on Your understanding every day of my life, through the Middle East and beyond, may I cherish both blessings and trials. May I receive your gifts as well as your disciplines. Shape me and refine me. Purify my heart so that I truly lean on Your understanding and wisdom. By Your strength, may I be weak so that You can be revealed as strong. Guide me, Lord, and I will follow!'
It has become apparent to me that the only way we will succeed through the Middle East is if this revelation transforms into a daily reality. The strength and knowledge of man is not, and will never be, sufficient to achieve victory. The Lord will see us through the upcoming countries; in order to do this He is asking for our complete trust and dependence on Him and Him alone. I don’t have any qualms that it won’t be nerve racking at times; but perhaps as I battle through these feelings, and continue to present my actions as a humble sacrifice, that He’ll spit shine this marred vessel into a closer depiction of His image.
During the moments of tribulation it may not seem worth it, but as we choose on a daily basis to stay the course of humility HE WILL SEE US THROUGH to victory!