WALK IN THE RIGHT PATHS

“In all your WAYS acknowledge Him, and He shall DIRECT YOUR PATHS””– Proverbs 3:6

To Walk in God’s Way is to WALK in the RIGHT PATHS: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL YOUR WAYS acknowledge Him, and He shall DIRECT YOUR PATHS” (Pro.3: 5-6). Recall our key verse in yesterday’s Capsule: “I have taught you in the Way of Wisdom; I have led you in RIGHT PATHS” (Pro.4:11). God delights in directing our paths to align with His Right Paths! Life’s Path refers to the way we live and what we decide to do with our limited time on earth. There is abundant counsel in Scriptures for what path in life will provide the most fulfilment.

For God to direct our paths is for Him to guide and show us the path to take. The faithful believer can receive specific direction for life choices. Our omniscient and omnipotent God is able to specifically guide each of us in life choices, since He alone knows the best possible path to take: “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psa.23:3b). That is, “He guides me along the right paths” (NIV). A shepherd doesn’t just send the sheep off in a general direction and hope things go well! He goes ahead of them, and guides them along the specific paths that he knows will be best for them.

Similarly, God will provide detailed guidance for our precise paths in life, if we allow Him: “In all your ways acknowledge Him” (v.6a). God's guidance for individuals is reflected in what the Lord Jesus said about the shepherd’s care for individual sheep: “he calls His own sheep by name” (Jh.10:3). There are specific questions and issues that apply to us as individuals that God cares about: our salvation, spiritual growth, education, business, career, marriage, family, parenting, health, and wellbeing.   

Some seemingly trivial decisions can have far-reaching effects on our Christian faith. But the Lord promises: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psa.32:8). God knows the best options of life’s paths; the ones that will provide the best prospects for Christian service and deployment of talents and gifts. Concerning career for example, while several vocations might bring us success and fulfilment, it is logical to expect that God who "works all things after the counsel of His will" will guide us to the career path that’s best for our present and future good (Eph.1:11). 

The sovereign God knows all our abilities and potentials, as well as our shortcomings and limitations. He controls all events and circumstances of history. If we’re willing to let Him direct our path, all will fall into place, right on schedule. The same goes for marriage. There may be many potential Christian spouses who meet the biblical qualifications of a wife or husband, but which one is the best Christian life-partner for each of us?  God knows which person will best complement each of us. He who told His Old Testament people that He had "good plans" for them has good plans for our lives too (Jer. 29:11).

od knows all the details along our paths; but “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter” (Pro.25:2). We must find them out and follow the particular path God desires for us. He may not reveal His detailed plan like a road map highlighted with all the right turns. God can choose to guide us through special communication or unusual circumstances. Our responsibility is to obey Him in all we do relative to the light that we have.

God guides us by “the Way of Wisdom” (Pro.4:11). This means living life with its many decisions in accordance with God’s Word and through prayerfully received insight especially for decisions that may affect the entire course of our lives! When we "walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16), we can be confident that we’re following the “right paths” He has planned for us.