The Path

We have been told many times that God's thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways—this is difficult to understand. Take a quote like Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."  We would all rather follow the path that more footsteps have been on, the one that looks a little easier, than the path that is less traveled.

However, God wants us to know that His ways are higher than our ways and He will lead us to places that we can hardly dream of, if we are willing to go to places that He is leading us to, regardless of if the path is heavily or less traveled on. 

Sometimes work, friends, family, life, health, school, church, and finances, cloud our perception of the path that God has us on and we tend to create a disturbance in the flow of our lives and we get a little nettled. And then we begin to wonder what kind of plan God has and if in fact we need to work harder to be in the place that we perceive as the ideal for our lives.  We cannot always understand what God is doing, but we can trust that what He is doing will be the best for us.

We tend to complicate even the most natural and simple things in life and then become resistance to the flow of God as He leads us, we feel that we must be the ones to forge through the path that He is leading us on, unaware of life and ultimately cut ourselves off from truly embracing and enjoying life.

If we take a look at Isaiah 55:10 we see what happens when the rain and snow fall to the ground. As it melts away from the earth it waters the plants of the earth and leaves things in bloom, in their natural state. This is what takes place when we do not disrupt the course of action that God has established for us to live in freedom and in the flow of the path He is leading us on. 

There will never be anyone who can teach us God's plan for our life better than God, our dreams, aspirations, and goals can all be found in resting in Him and trusting that the path He is leading us on will allow us to flow and bloom like flowers after a fresh rain. God knows what your next step should be...  so just keep walking and enjoy the journey along the way. 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:8-11

Making Choices In Life

Everything in life is a choice—are you choosing the best?

There are many choices for every situation or issue that we face daily, and some days it seems everything goes well; people help us, the details of events/projects fall into place, outcomes and rewards are visible. However, there are days though, when everything seems to be up hill or full of under-currents.

Even so, we need to recognize that we do have choices to make whether our day is going according to our plan or we find that we are faced with unexpected happenings. It is vital that we learn to be truly in our unique flow regardless of what is taking place around us or even how far off basis our plans have become.

We have to continue to be ourselves no matter what the given situation and be flexible with our plans in order to still be effective and make choices that are suitable. A few points to keep in mind that will aid us in such situations or issues in our daily living are described as being:

• Consistent

• Contemplative

• Decisive

• Determined

• Focused

• Introspective

• Organized

• Persistent 

There is strength in these characteristics as we make choices and when we fail to take ownership of our choice we generally berate ourselves over past deeds, perceived mistakes and experiences, and that stops the flow of creativity and forward movement in our lives.

Another point to consider is to forgive ourselves for any perceived short comings or lack, misdeeds, and mistakes—none of which, we can change no matter how much we berate ourselves.

If we would like to live in the ebb and flow of our lives, we have to learn to live in the moment and make choices that are suitable, knowing that other influences will be going on all around us, but it doesn't mean that they will dictate how, when, and if we respond.

Many people are afraid to take ownership of their choices because they feel that their choices are not credible, important, or in the end will be wrong. The opposite is true and our choices in life do count each and every moment of the day.

Making choices does not have to be complicated or long and drawn out (some situations and issues that pertain to life do require a longer time frame), but we have to learn to become comfortable with the choices we do make and stick to them with full confidence that we have made the best choice at the time, with the ultimate leading of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit within us.

Lastly, but most certainly not least, is that we do need to base all choices we make on what God is leading us in and what the Holy Spirit is directing us in, no matter what others are sayings or what is going on around us—in the end it is between us and God.

 

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for He is your life... 

Deuteronomy 30:19-20a

 

Perspective Shift

What is your perspective?

How do you perceive things?

It is amazing how just a shift in our perspective or how we perceive things happens when we allow ourselves to view them in a more reasonable manner! It truly is great when we just take the time to really look at the thoughts playing in our heads, or the situation we are facing with a whole different outlook—perspective.

How do you look at life today? 

Do you really have a perspective that is conducive of living in the moment before you—regretting nothing and only learning from the past, delighting in the present, and embracing the mysteries of the future?

What will it take for a perspective shift as you look at your life?

And not just for today, but in everything that you do minute to minute. God is always there to assist us in our perspective shift and until we learn to wait upon Him we will not fully know Him and all His greatness.

Just maybe, that is where you need to begin—perspective shift—learning about God and all His greatness. Until we have the proper perspective of who God is, what He has done, and is doing in our lives we have a difficult time living in the moment before us.

 

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him. 

Lamentations 3:22-24

The Quietness Of The Day

The day starts, as the body naturally wakes up from its restful sleep, and I so looked forward to my quiet time alone with God in the dark silences of the morning—blanket on my lap, Bible, devotionals, pen, and journal ready at my fingertips. I anticipate this time knowing that my day requires this beginning, more so than my run or workout that follows.

At times the quietness of the day can very easily slip away for things that seem more important and of greater value, but in reality the quietness of the day is a gift that we so effortlessly let fall away.

[We] can neither make, nor retain, one moment of time; it all comes to [us] by pure gift...  -C.S.Lewis

In the quietness of the morning it is a time to communicate with God one on one with no distractions, reflect on the day ahead, and gain greater awareness of who we are and the direction in which God is leading us.  

I know that we all have good intentions, to take time out of our days to spend in quietness and it doesn't have to be in the early morning darkness, but whenever it is conducive of what works best for each individual. Spending time in the quietness of the day is just that a gift, which we need not reject or take it for granted. Instead we should welcome the moment and treasure it like we do a priceless gift.