What does success really looks like according to God. I know He has a plan for me and it is revealed to me one step at a time.
One step at a time. In a world that desires immediate answers, one step at a time guidance can be frustrating. In a world that can click on a website and get detailed directions to any destination they desire, God asks us to trust Him one step at a time.
I love that I can google a map that not only tells me what roads to take, where to turn, pictures of what each road and turn looks like, mileage and feet from one turn to the next and expected travel time! I used to be very hesitant to drive to parts of town I was unfamiliar with. And if I was traveling to an area that required me to rent a car and drive myself, I would insist on a traveling companion. But now that I can print that map with pictures AND get verbal directions from my GPS, I don't hesitate to go anywhere on my own. (I am especially fond of that kind voice on the GPS that says "recalculating" when I make those wrong turns!) With my map and GPS, I have great confidence driving down any road...any path.
There are days when I wish God would give me that kind of map. Show me what is around that corner before I come to it. Tell me when to turn and how far it is between each turn. Let me know the travel time to the next destination. Give me a GGPS (God's Guidance for Personal Success) with verbal turn by turn instructions. (Can't you just hear that tender and encouraging voice saying "recalculating" when we made those wrong turns!)
God is God, and if it was good for us, He would provide us with all the details we desired as we walk the path He has laid out for us. I take great comfort in knowing that because God is God, learning to lean on Him is better than any map we could ever ask for. And as for that GGPS, I'll take the leading of the Holy Spirit and it's steady voice speaking to my soul whenever I choose to listen.
God gives us a map. We find it in His Word. And as I explored what this map said about God's path, I found some great insight and direction.
Below are just a few of the verses that tell us God has a path planned out for our life. In these verses, there are 3 different Hebrew words used that are translated as 'path' in the english language.
Some use the Hebrew word that means a rutted path of a cart or a wagon.
Some use the Hebrew word for a road; or by extension ~ behavior, lifestyle.
Some use the Hebrew word for thoroughfare; or by extension ~ way of life, manner of conduct.
Each Hebrew variation of the word 'path' has significant and specific meaning that is useful in gleening a deeper word from these scriptures.
In this scripture, God is showing us that His path is like a rutted path of a cart or wagon:
Psalm 23:3
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Think about a rutted path. It is created because carts and wagons have taken that path over and over and over. The wheels of the carts and wagons have carved out a deep path that others can follow and not get lost. It has been used so much because it has proven to be the best path to take to reach the destination successfully. In fact, a rutted path that is followed over and over for long periods of time can be hard to get out of. The wheels are deep in the path and one would have to intentionally jerk their wagon wheels out of the rut to go in a different direction.
So this verse actually says, He leads me in the rutted paths of righteousness... God is telling us that if we will just walk in the path He has carved out for us, we can't get lost and we will live a life in order to please God. And by specifically choosing this Hebrew word, I can't help but think God is reminding me that as a believer filled with the Holy Spirit, getting off His path is an intentional act of rebellion.
IN this next scripture, God is showing us that His path tells us how to behave and the type of lifestyle we should have:
Psalm 54:10
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Here God is telling us that His word, biblical scripture, tells us how to behave and the type of lifestyle we should have. There is no excuse for not knowing how to live a life in order to please God.
IN these scriptures, God is showing us that His path should be our way of life and how we conduct ourselves on a daily basis:
Psalm 27:11
Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path.
Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life.
I love the second one. God will show me the way of my life and what to do every every day.
As a believer, the Holy Spirit gives us a desire to live in order to please God. But there are times when we jerk our carts out of the rutted path and take off in our own directions. But the rutted path is there. At some point we realize the path we have decided to take on our own does not bring the joy and peace we thought it would. How good it is to return to that rutted path and fall back into it. It feels good. It feels like home.
God Bless and Keep You,
Tami
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