In All Your Ways Acknowledge Him: What Does It Mean?
Published Aug 29, 2021
‘“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Most Christians are familiar with this verse. It’s probably one of the most famous proverbs in the bible. You’ll often see these words plastered in wall decorations, notebook covers, murals, etcetera. But only a few can explain what they really meant.
The verse talks about two things: trusting God wholeheartedly and acknowledging him in all our ways. The former has been explained by countless articles. The latter, however, is often misunderstood.
What does acknowledging God in all our ways mean?
To begin with, know that this particular verse has various translations in different bible versions.
In the New King James Version, this is translated as:
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths”
But in the New International Version, this proverb is written as:
“in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
While the New Living Translation (NLV) bible interpreted it as:
“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) also has a different translation which goes:
“in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”
All the translations seem to agree for the most part, except for the word “acknowledge” which is replaced by:
- to submit
- to seek his will
- to know
In the original Hebrew text, the word used was “yada`” which accounts for the varied translations. Nevertheless, these translations give us an idea of what the verse is trying to express.
What Does It Mean to “Acknowledge”?
In the dictionary, the word “acknowledge” is defined as:
- to accept or admit the existence or truth of
- to express or display gratitude for or appreciation of
- to show that one has noticed or recognized (someone) by making a gesture or greeting
In our daily lives, the last one seems to be the most common application of the word “acknowledge”. Whenever we see an acquaintance on the street, we nod or smile to show that we acknowledge them.
Yet despite the smiles and nods, we rarely ever speak to them. It’s like sending a message that we notice them but we don’t want to talk to them. Acknowledging someone has become more of a polite gesture than a genuine desire to recognize their presence.
Unfortunately, this same attitude also reflects in the way we acknowledge God. We pray to him, sing songs in his praise, preach his words. Yet, only very few are willing to “talk” to him. Worse, the praise and worship are sometimes all just lip service so that we look good in front of others.
This is not how you acknowledge the Lord. It’s merely a way of letting him know that we notice him. Reciting prayers without really meaning them isn’t acknowledging His presence. Nor does singing songs of praise in public when you can’t even praise Him when you’re alone.
Acknowledging God in all our ways should be more like the first two definitions. It means accepting His existence and being grateful to Him – every single day of our life.
How Can We Acknowledge God in All Our Ways?
Trusting Him
The bible verse in which the words “in all your ways acknowledge Him” was mentioned started with “trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” This means that acknowledging God starts with trusting Him.
Remember that acknowledging God involves accepting His existence which also means welcoming Him into our life. How can we welcome someone into our lives if we don’t trust them? It’s just like with our friends and acquaintances. When we trust someone, it’s easier to open our hearts and share our secrets with them. We get to know them more personally. In short, they become someone dear to us rather than just another stranger.
This is why trusting God is the first step to acknowledging Him. We need to get to know Him better for us to be fully aware of His presence. He needs to become more than just a figure that we worship but a friend whom we can put our confidence in.
Recognizing His Overruling Providence
Accepting God’s existence entails recognizing his overruling providence.
In Peter’s gospel, he said:
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:6-7
Recognizing his overruling providence means humbling ourselves before God. By doing this, we are submitting ourselves to his providence. It is accepting that all that we are and all that we have comes from Him and that we are nothing without Him.
Reading His Words
If we really want to know God more, there’s no better place to start than the Bible. But reading it is not enough. We must let God’s words transform us and strengthen our faith. Think of it as like our guidebook to getting to know Him better. It’s the key to understanding God’s character and what he’s really like. There are so many things to discover in the Scriptures if we just take the time to really understand it.
Admitting Our Sins
By admitting the wrongs we have done, we also acknowledge that we need God in our life. It signifies that we humbly accept our humanity and our propensity to sin. But admitting our sins isn’t enough. We must be prepared to amend our ways to avoid committing it again. Like when David humbly confessed before God his transgressions (Psalm 51). He also asked God to create in him a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. It’s more than just asking for forgiveness, it’s also acknowledging that our God is a just and merciful God.
Acknowledging God’s Ways in Our Life
In one of the translations, the word “acknowledge” was replaced by “seeking his will”. This means that to acknowledge God is the same as seeking and obeying his will. To seek his will means accepting his plans for us and not lean on our own understanding. It’s about knowing that His plans might be different from ours and yet we are at peace because we are confident that His ways are best.
Seek a Deeper Connection with God and Join Lay Cistercians of South Florida
Lay Cistercians of South Florida, is a community of lay people who seeks to have a deeper connection with God by living a life inspired by the monks and nuns through Lay Monasticism. Learn more about what is a Lay Cistercian on our website. Anyone who aspires to do the same as us, and is a confirmed Catholic is welcome to join us! We meet every second Saturday of the month at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. She works hard to ensure her work uses accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources.
