Thought for the Day

Verses 5-6 - "Leaning on our own understanding" does not mean we are not to use our minds. When we do not understand what is happening, we must trust the LORD to show us what to do. When we are tempted to blame God for trials, we must not yield to Satan's accusations against Him. Evil attacks against us or our families do not come from God but Satan, who is trying to discourage us. We must trust God to bring us through every trial. If we acknowledge Him, He promises to direct our paths and show us how to overcome every problem we encounter.

Verse 7 - We must not be "wise in our own eyes," but reverently respect the Lord. If we really believe that the Bible is true, we will leave our own ways and follow His. We will honor His Word and not treat it lightly, since we will fear the consequences of rejecting Him. The Bible tells us there is a heaven and a hell and that we will decide which will be our abode. We are invited to repent of our sins, accept Jesus as our Savior, and obey His law of love. To accept this invitation is to choose the way of heaven. If we reject it, our rebellion will take us to hell. A healthy fear and respect of God will help us to resist evil when we are tempted to sin.

Verse 8 - The navel marks where a baby's umbilical cord was once attached, reminding us that our mothers gave us life by nourishing us through the umbilical cord before we were born. Symbolically, this could represent God's life - bringing health to us as we are "attached" to Him. The Hebrew word for navel also means "nerve or muscle." Following God brings health to our emotions and bodies. The phrase "marrow to thy bones" takes on strong implications regarding health in the light of modern medicine and biology: life-giving cells are created in the marrow of the bones and released to the body, and doctors even perform bone marrow transplants for the reversal of some fatal diseases.

Many helpful books are available on health, but the greatest advice on healthy living is found in God's Word. He desires to bless us with healthy minds, bodies and spirits. This complete health is obtained by allowing Jesus to rule every area of our lives.