Deuteronomy 21:17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The Lord gave me a word this morning, acknowledge. With it I had an understanding, a direction, and the hopes for a meaningful devotional. So I searched the scriptures for meaning.

The uses here are derived from two different Hebrew words with many similar meanings. The context will render different meanings only if you study deep enough to understand how those words were received in a moment of time.

What did the Lord tell me in that moment?

Forsake what I know for who I know.

Don’t bother to understand in context, you will not find it. The message was relational. It is within my heart, within my experience, and is meant for me at this time with purpose. It is personal.

Do you take the Word of the Lord personal? Does it speak into your heart, your experience, in the moment, with purpose and power? We get so caught up in being theologically correct that we miss the greater opportunity to see God getting personal with us.

I do not know what is in your heart, God does. I do not know what you are going through, God does. I do not know what your personal needs are, God does.

Having said that, why should we rely on anyone but God for personal relational needs?