He will guide you on the best path for your life
This is what the Lord says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls Jeremiah 6:16
We are told to stop and consider the paths ahead of us, then we are to ask which way to go. Here lies the problem, we often follow the dictates of our own hearts and not according to Gods’ ways or God’s Word. The bible says the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it? In the book of Jeremiah, God saw that the people were following the dictates of their own hearts, according to what they thought was right, but it wasn’t. They had followed customs of other nations in worshiping idols, and other horrible things while they still continued in their ceremonies in God’s holy temple. They were repeatedly warned but refused to obey, their hearts became dull and they no longer had the wisdom and understanding to go the right way. They stumbled from the ancient paths , refusing to listen .(Jer 18:15). Finally God said enough, “I’m tired of always giving you another chance” ( Jer 15:6, 13:10,9:14,11:8)
There is a way that seems right to us, but it’s end is death (prov 14:12)
Just because we think something is right, doesn’t make it right. Our paths should be of holiness and uprightness with the fear of the Lord, He leads us in right paths . We may get knocked down nor held back (see struggles of Paul, Moses, David, etc) but we keep on , running the race to win. Especially those who are working for the Lord, it may seem as is your work is in vain, but God’s word never comes back void, it prospers where it goes (Is 55. Prov 30:24, 14:2)
Psalms 1 warns us not to walk with the ungoldly or sit with scorners or enter the path of the wicked. We are not to travel that way, we are instructed to turn and pass on. Meditate on God’s word , receive His instructions and the years of your life will be many. He will teach you in the way of wisdom, He will lead you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered. and when you run, you will not stumble. Take a firm hold of instruction and do not let go. She is your life. (prov 4:10-15) Never let it go.
“people ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord” Prov 19:3
Do not let wisdom, understanding and discretion depart from your eyes, they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck . You will walk safely and God will help you and guide you. Lay aside the sins that hold us back and try to keep you bound, the sins that ensnare you. You must control and master sin, you cannot let sin control you. So search out and examine your ways, turn back to God. We ought to walk in a way that pleases God, His will for you is to be Holy. Stop for a moment to consider your ways – are they holy? my words, my actions, where I go? who I hang out with? what I read? things I watch? my thoughts? music? God has called you to live holy lives, not impure lives. Anyone who refuses to live by God’s word is rejecting God. You must control your own body…. and your thoughts. Live in holiness and honor, not a life of lustful passions. Are you seeking great things for yourself? God asked Jeremiah’s scribe this question and God said, ” Well, don’t”. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. We are also to help others find their way back to the path- gently and humbly, being careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. In Ezekiel, God told him when the watchman sees destruction ahead, he must warn the people, if he doesn’t the watchman will be responsible- their blood on his head (Pro3:19-26, Heb 12:1-2, Lam 3:40, 1 Thes 4:1, Mark 9:35. Ps 1, gal 6:1, Ez 3 )
I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay to keep your commands Prv 19-59-60
It is the Lord who makes our way perfect and it is God who arms us with strength. He teaches sinners in the way and guides us in justice. All the paths of the Lord are true and right and we live by walking in them. You have a choice, you know God wants you to be Holy and Jesus said we are to be perfect as He is perfect. Yet our churches proclaim “no perfect people” and yes, I understand what they are saying, who doesn’t, but that is not scriptural, in fact it’s the opposite. He is making you perfect and will guide you on the path of holiness – not self righteousness rooted in pride, but changing us day by day to be more like Him. If you want to stay on God’s path, read His word, meditate on scripture, build your faith up, spend time in prayer, grow closer to Him each day. People love to hear these words and listen as if it’s a sweet melody, but don’t obey, they turn away and continue on in lives without changing. God told Ezekiel the people are hearers but not doers. It does no good to hear and not obey, just as faith without works is dead, as the body is dead without spirit, so is reading God’s truth and not applying it to your life. You can only enter God’s kingdom through the narrow gate, The highway hell is broad and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. Will you take the narrow path that takes effort or will you follow the wide path that all the world follows? (John 14:6, Matthew 7:13-14, Ps 18:32, Ps 2:8-11)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways (IN ALL YOUR WAYS) Acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones. Prov 3:5-8
What have I learned?
- I must consider and examine my ways
- Ask God which way I should go
- Trust Him in all my ways and be confident He will direct me
- understand that my ways may not be God’s ways
- don’t follow the dictates of my own heart
- Align my life with God’s word
- Don’t be selfish
- help others that have backslidden
- Don’t give up, run the race to win
- Don’t let instructions go, they are your life
- Don’t walk with sinners
- Get rid of the sin that ensnares you and holds you back
- Live a life that pleases God
- Control your own body, your tongue and your thoughts
- Delight in the Lord
- God will make your way perfect, He is your strength
- He leads sinners in the way
- when you walk, you won’t be hindered
- when you run, you won’t stumble,
- when you lie down, you won’t be afraid
- There is only ONE way to God the Father . Jesus said ” I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, except by me”
Sometimes we just don’t know which way to go, but trust God in all your ways. There are instances in the bible were God’s people took a wrong turn, but the Lord fixed it. Examples – when Abraham allowed Pharaoh to take Sarah, when Joseph’s brothers sold him, when David took Bethsheba, when Abigail went against her husband and brought the king food, when Sampson disobeyed his parents- in all this, God’s will always prevails. Walk with Him, and you are on the right path.
Isaiah 30: 21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
Ancient Paths 