Have you ever come to a "fork in the road" while traveling in an unfamiliar place, and you just don't really know which way to go?
I was hiking at the end of September 2007 with my sister and a friend(Kathy, if you're reading this, do you remember this?!). We were in a section of the Adirondacks that is considered to be one of the more remote wilderness sections. (Silver Lake Wilderness region). In fact, we only saw a couple of hikers while on the trail. We came to the path that I thought would lead to our destination (a large eddy of water on the Sacandaga River) but after hiking along the trail for about 30 min. we realized we were not on the correct trail. And we even had a guidebook with us! I thought I was following exactly what the book was saying but.....when I first had that gut instinct to turn around, we decided that would be the best course of action for us. We still ended up on a trail that never led us to the "big eddy"....in fact, we hiked for over an hour and decided to turn around and head back. We were in deep wilderness yet we weren't afraid of being lost because we just stuck to that trail, knowing it would eventually lead us somewhere. The problem is: if we had kept going in that direction, we would have been to a part of the wilderness which was over an hour by car and we would have hiked a total of 8 miles. And then we would have had to hike back for 8 miles because our car was back at the original starting point! Needless to say: we turned around, enjoyed alot of fellowship, had a picnic lunch, cooled our feet off in the river, and headed back to the car.
I like this verse from Isaiah 30: 21 (NIV); "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"
He will lead and guide us if we are willing to listen. The closer we are to the Lord, the easier it is to hear His voice.
And unlike my guidebook, which really wasn't super clear on directions or trail markers, God ALWAYS has the right answer for us. He is our guide whom we can trust in. He knows which way we need to go and wants us to walk it according to His plan.
What path are you following today? Who will you turn to first for guidance?
Are you spending daily time in God's Word?
Are you communicating with Him on a daily basis?
Are you willing to be quiet and still your thoughts so you can hear Him when He speaks to you?
And are you listening?
I was hiking at the end of September 2007 with my sister and a friend(Kathy, if you're reading this, do you remember this?!). We were in a section of the Adirondacks that is considered to be one of the more remote wilderness sections. (Silver Lake Wilderness region). In fact, we only saw a couple of hikers while on the trail. We came to the path that I thought would lead to our destination (a large eddy of water on the Sacandaga River) but after hiking along the trail for about 30 min. we realized we were not on the correct trail. And we even had a guidebook with us! I thought I was following exactly what the book was saying but.....when I first had that gut instinct to turn around, we decided that would be the best course of action for us. We still ended up on a trail that never led us to the "big eddy"....in fact, we hiked for over an hour and decided to turn around and head back. We were in deep wilderness yet we weren't afraid of being lost because we just stuck to that trail, knowing it would eventually lead us somewhere. The problem is: if we had kept going in that direction, we would have been to a part of the wilderness which was over an hour by car and we would have hiked a total of 8 miles. And then we would have had to hike back for 8 miles because our car was back at the original starting point! Needless to say: we turned around, enjoyed alot of fellowship, had a picnic lunch, cooled our feet off in the river, and headed back to the car.
Aren't we like that sometimes, in a spiritual sense? Don't we sometimes come to one of those "forks in the road of life" and not know which way to turn?
As Believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. This means God can whisper in that "still, small voice" IF we are listening. He can give us directions! We can hear His voice by staying in the Word daily. By talking with Him in prayer.
Perhaps there are some of us who think we are on the right path, only to find ourselves "lost". No matter what your situation is, turn things over to God and let Him lead you back to the right path.
As Believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. This means God can whisper in that "still, small voice" IF we are listening. He can give us directions! We can hear His voice by staying in the Word daily. By talking with Him in prayer.
Perhaps there are some of us who think we are on the right path, only to find ourselves "lost". No matter what your situation is, turn things over to God and let Him lead you back to the right path.
I like this verse from Isaiah 30: 21 (NIV); "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"
He will lead and guide us if we are willing to listen. The closer we are to the Lord, the easier it is to hear His voice.
And unlike my guidebook, which really wasn't super clear on directions or trail markers, God ALWAYS has the right answer for us. He is our guide whom we can trust in. He knows which way we need to go and wants us to walk it according to His plan.
What path are you following today? Who will you turn to first for guidance?
Are you spending daily time in God's Word?
Are you communicating with Him on a daily basis?
Are you willing to be quiet and still your thoughts so you can hear Him when He speaks to you?
And are you listening?
3 comments:
What a great post! And how many times has HE spoke to us & we chose a different way? I have been guilty of that & wound up in repentance because there I would be on the wrong path & lost...and you are correct....If we listen, we will hear HIM.
Love ya
Very good post, Faith! A lot of times I just don't want to go back down the road to safety and instead push on in stubborness. But what God was saying is always the best way if I had just listened.
"The closer we are to the Lord, the easier it is to hear His voice."
So good! And so true!
And the stubborness Susanne mentioned in her comment...I know there have been too many times I have indeed pressed on down the wrong path in my own stubborness!
This is a great post. Encourages me to press in closer to Him and to stop and evaluate the "paths" I am on!
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