THE PATH (Part 1)

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

Has you life ever been on a path illustrated by this picture? Have you willingly set out on a path and things were going great but up ahead you see the path is about to make a turn around the bend! Try as you might you can't see what lies around that corner without actually turning that corner! As I see it you could do 1 of 3 things. 1. You can stall out and take a seat right here on the path and think about how far you have come and contemplate the next move. 2. You can retreat and completely give up all the progress you made because fear is keeping you back. 3. You can faithfully take one step at a time with God and boldly make the corner.

A lot of times in my life I have done #1 which is Complacency. I want to over-analyze the situation and even think that I'll just wait it out and surely someone else will be coming up that path anytime now and I'll just see what happens to them. Ironically, no one has ever shown up on that path because it is only mine to walk (with God)! I like to look back at these times and prove to myself how far I have come and give myself a pat on the back but really I haven't finished the race and all I'm doing is slowing down my progress to a complete halt.

I have also spent equal time with #2. Retreating. I have no problem following God's path for my life until it looks uncertain, requires more faith than I really have, or just downright looks like its going to be difficult! So I have no problems trying to back step and go back to where little was required of me. Then I get to a point where I have really fallen all the way back to where I started from and then again begin the same journey. Each time getting to that place where I am uncertain of making that blind corner!

Unfortunately, I have spent less time in #3. Faithfulness. Where I trust God and know that this is the path he is directing me and taking each step with Him. Proverbs 20:24 The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Although less time is spent here, I do know enough to say that stepping out in faithfulness does hurt at some point. If it didn't then we wouldn't need God right? But I also have been faithful enough to know that walking through difficulties with God brings you to an incredible place that you would have never gotten too if you were just relying on yourself, or where too complacent or scared to just be faithful and know that God is directing your paths. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. So if you know you are on God's path and you are insecure about going forward. Take courage! Mark 6:50 Jesus said "Don't be afraid. Take courage! I am here!"

PS. . .I took this pic on a walk recently and it was if Christ was speaking all of this to me when I looked at the picture for the first time! Maybe it will speak to some of you!