Many times, during my life, I thought I was on the right path. I had trodden a trail that seemed familiar and recognizable.
At times, it felt as if I had taken a wrong turn but the longer I was on the path, the more forks I had encountered, the road seemed to be leading me to happiness.
Until it, all came to a head. As I look back it seems it was a dead end. A path that went in circles that lead me to right back to me.
That may have been okay if I had never let myself down. If I had never disappointed myself or been reluctant to forgive myself and at times love myself. But none of those things were true of myself.
If there is one thing I learned from my travels on that dry dusty path it is that God is amazingly gracious and unbounding in love and forgiveness. He is all the things that I am not but so desperately need.
Sometimes life is just that. A well-worn path that appears to be the right road.
We feel like we are making progress or are getting on by our own means but in hindsight, it is just the wrong way. We may find the only way to go forward is to get off that road and go back and find the right one.
The Bible gives us a lot of guidance about being on the path that follows Christ. We not only get assurance that it is the right road but we have a hope that we are not left on the path alone.
Lean into God
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
The wisdom of Proverbs tells us that our understanding is not dependable, but God’s is. We can lean on Him. He will show us which path is right when we are seeking His will.
His Word Will Guide Your Path
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 NLT
Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Psalm 24:5 NLT
My path can seem dimly lit even to the point I am not sure that I am on the right one. With God, our paths will be brightly shining so we can be sure that we have a proper footing.
Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make your way straight before me. Psalm 5:8 NIV
When in God's Word, we can be sure that the road signs point us to Christ and to righteousness. Even if we are lead down the path of our enemies, God will be there to guide us back to the righteous path that leads us back to Him.
I Am Alive in Christ
I confidently believed that following the desires of my heart and being my own independent person were going to lead to my ultimate happiness.
Those ideas are widely promoted. They sound good. They sound promising.
Those ideas are the well-trampled path of the world. It may seem unnatural and counterproductive to believe anything else.
In reality and with eternal perspective those ideas are completely opposite to what the Bible teaches.
Sure, the Bible says God will give you the desires of your heart but it follows the phrase, Delight yourself in the Lord.
If we are finding the delight and joy of our lives in the Lord, He will give us our desires because our desires will be Him.
So instead of this never-ending self-centered circle where my life revolves around me, I place God in the center and He becomes my absolute joy. Then my desires will be fulfilled.
Galatians 2 says with Christ I have been crucified. I need to put myself aside because to really live I must live through Christ. When I put my faith in Him and His death and resurrection, He lives in me.
Because He lives in me, I AM ALIVE!
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NIV
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:9 NIV
Dear Heavenly Father, I stand humbly before you. Lord, my greatest desire is to know you more, be obedient to your ways, and find my delight and joy in you. Lord, you are the path that leads to holiness, righteousness, and all the greatest desires of my life. May I live my life not on the well beaten path that the world has already laid before me but the path that leads to the glorious richness of your beauty. May I live my days with an eternal perspective that makes my life here joyful and consistent with your ways. Lord, lead me, guide me, and help me to live each day seeking you.
In your precious name. Amen
Personal Reflections:
Are you able to look back to a well-worn path in your life and see where God changed your perspective?
A life with Christ begins by recognizing that we are going the wrong way and we need to turn to the way that Christ leads us. Have you made the decision to turn to God’s way? If you would like to continue this conversation or have questions, feel free to contact me.
What do you use as a marker for a well-worn path? How do you help others follow that same path?
Have you trodden a path for the next generation leading them to Christ?
