We are all on a path. As Christians our desire is to seek God’s will in our lives so that we can be on the path He desires for us. We pray and ask God for guidance. We read the Bible, the Word of God, for instruction and confirmation of our choices. We seek the counsel of believers who have more knowledge, wisdom, and experience than ourselves. When all three of these are working together (prayer, the Word, wise counsel), we have the best possible chance to find the path that leads us to God’s will. Have you ever felt that you are trying your best to follow this formula but something keeps going wrong? Do you know someone who can not stay on God’s path, or any path for that matter? How do believers find themselves lost, alone, and confused far from able to navigate life God’s way? The answer may be right before your eyes, hidden in plain sight.

Human nature is one of the elements that is constantly threatening to interfere with our progress. Perhaps the greatest danger on the road to our destiny is the very will God has given us which allows us to make choices in the first place. Our pride and natural reactions often mislead us into thinking we know what to do next, or convince us that we know more than we do.

Imagine walking down a beautifully paved walkway clearly marked and outlined. Rimming the edge there are beautiful flowers and shrubs placed perfectly in complement to the winding stone path you are confidently walking. In the distance you can see the horizon, like a promise, hovering above a sea of shimmering possibilities. You take comfort in the appearance and design of the surrounding landscape, it appeals to your senses visually and instinctively. In our minds, there is an order to how things should look, sound, smell, taste, and feel. Our instincts tell us that we should walk only on the paved road and follow it to the beautiful conclusion we can see before us. The danger here is that in trusting our senses or our instincts, we fail to recognize that God’s order is not our order and that His way is not our way. When God would have us leave the path and trample through the manicured plantings, we freeze. “That can not be right”, we think. Our mind begins its biological and cognitive duties to keep us safe and unharmed. It urges us to choose the “safe” logical direction. It looks for patterns and predicts the outcome. Past experience provides data on positive and negative triggers that are potential warning signs. Sorting this information often takes place subconsciously and without our awareness.

Most of us are programmed in ways we rarely acknowledge. When we have seen what we imagined to be our goal and have longed for it, we resist God’s urging in the opposite directions. The mind is powerful. It can be convincing, compelling, insistent, and sadly, completely off-track. Our feelings work in concert with our mind, as they are chemically connected, and further confuses our ability to make a decision in the moment. But decide we must and knowing how to navigate the urgings of the body, mind, and soul will help us to follow God and avoid the slippery slope of self-reliance.

Recently I had the privilege of attending a study by Max Lucado entitled “You Will Get Through This.” In it, Max Lucado beautifully illustrates the clarity that comes with simply obeying God. He tells us to ask ourselves, before we make any decisions, if our choice will be pleasing to God. If the answer is ‘yes’ then we can have peace that our decision will not have damaging results. This, of course, assumes that we know God and what His word says. If you do not, the good news is the Bible is waiting with the wisdom of the Lord and thanks to the modern conveniences of Apps and the internet, we are just a “search” away from truth. Along with this, God desires for us to be in fellowship with other believers so that we can counsel and support each other. If you make these things your first line of action when making decisions, you are far less likely to fall victim to your own emotions, urges, and short-term wishes. Max cautions us all “not to trade a moments carnality for a life’s legacy“. Ask yourself what you want your legacy to be so that when temptation comes you can be very clear what you are giving up if you decide to give in.

When we let go of what the world says is valuable and cling to what God says has value, we open the door to blessings far better than any perfectly manicured path we could have conceived on our own. The paths we construct for ourselves tend to be marked by our goals and dreams, our desires and wishes.  God’s path ends in eternity, it produces perseverance and strength. You may have to struggle over thorny ground, endure a darkened pit, or trample across rocky terrain, but be of good courage, God will be with you and you will become who He intended you to be as a result of the journey and your willingness to trust and obey your Holy Father.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”John 16:33

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:24

 Dear God, I surrender my life to you. Help me to obey and rejoice in your ways. Let me be a blessing to others and help me to accept the blessings you send to me. Give me a heart of gratitude and eyes to see what you see. I will not desire any earthly thing more than I desire to know and love you Lord. Help me to be committed to this path, give me strength to resist temptations and courage to stand for what is right in your eyes. In Jesus’ name, amen.