Good Morning Sunshine! Walking In God’s Way, Will Move You Out Of Your Way! 

Proverbs 14:12 NIV ~ “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

Have you ever set out on a journey and realized too late that you were heading in the wrong direction? Life’s choices can often feel like that, paths that appear good, sensible, or even promising at the start, only to end in disappointment or pain. Today’s scripture is a warning from God: what seems right to us in your human wisdom is not always the right path. Your emotions, experiences, and the culture you live in can deceive you into thinking you’re making the best choice! I want you to know that you are your own worst enemy. You will cause yourself more pain and trouble than any foe ever could! 

Life often presents you with endless choices. Some seem logical, some appealing, or some just so convenient that you confidently move forward, assuming that you are on the right path. However, making a decision does not automatically mean it aligns with God’s destiny for your life. Just because you decided to do it, doesn’t mean that God destined it for you! When you choose a path that seems right in your own eyes without seeking God’s wisdom, you risk veering off course. 

Like Jonah, who fled in the opposite direction of Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-3), your plans can lead to turmoil, confusion, or unnecessary detours. Jonah’s choice wasn’t God’s plan, it was his own plan and attempt to escape what he didn’t want to do. Yet, God intervened, rerouted and redirected Jonah through a storm and a great fish. God will always remind you of this important truth, just because you choose a path doesn’t mean God destined us to walk it. His plan is perfect, purposeful, and tailored to the calling He has placed on your life. It requires you to totally trust Him, even when the journey ahead feels unclear or uncomfortable.

God is the architect of your destiny. He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb and He has already planned out each day of your life (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:16). Yet, as free-willed individuals, you will try to build your own plans instead of surrendering to His blueprint. When you make decisions out of fear, ambition, or impatience, you run the risk of designing a life that may look good outwardly but lacks divine purpose inwardly! 

Abraham and Sarah learned this lesson the hard way when they decided to try and help God fulfill His promise of a son. Their decision to have a child through Hagar created more complications than it was worth (Genesis 16). Yet God, in His mercy, still fulfilled His original plan in His perfect time, and like Abraham and Sarah, you must recognize that shortcuts and self-made plans cannot and will not replace God’s timing or His perfect will for your life! 

Learning to follow God’s destiny path for your life requires a posture of humility and listening. Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Hearing my His voice requires intentionality, spending time in prayer, studying His Word, and remaining sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What’s more, listening requires stillness. Often, in our haste to move forward, we drown out the gentle promptings of God’s Spirit. Make space in your life to pause, listen, and surrender.

Because without God’s guidance, you will be like a traveler following a broken compass, aiming for life but heading toward destruction. Consider King Saul, who seemed right in his own eyes when he spared King Agag and the best of the livestock instead of obeying God’s direct command (1 Samuel 15). His disobedience ultimately led to his downfall. Saul relied on his logic rather than God’s direction, forgetting that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). God is very clear in His message to you, He doesn’t just ask you to walk the path that merely looksright but to follow His Word, which is right! The world may tempt you to prioritize what feels right, success, power, relationships, or independence, but apart from God, those paths will lead you further from His plan and closer to the wrong way, which will cause you harm! 

So, how do you avoid choosing the wrong path, you must first submit yourself to God’s Word, allowing it to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). Prayer is essential in seeking God’s wisdom before making decisions and trusting that He will generously provide guidance when you ask (James 1:5). You must also trust Him and His timing, knowing that impatience will lead you astray, while God’s plans unfold perfectly in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Finally, listening to the Holy Spirit is crucial for your wellbeing; the Spirit of God within you brings peace and clarity, directing you toward the path of righteousness, even when it doesn’t align with what seems logical or easy (John 16:13). By submitting, praying, waiting, and listening, you can avoid the ways that seem right but lead to harm! 

Choosing God’s path may require sacrifice, patience, or a step of faith. It might mean laying down your plans, saying no to tempting opportunities, or surrendering control of an area of your life that you think that you can control! But God! But know this, it’s His Ways that will lead you to have an abundant life (John 10:10). Trust that He knows the best and better way to get you there! 

Here are some ways to help you discern if what you have decided to do aligns with God’s destiny for your life:

1. Seek His Word. God’s will is never contradictory to His Word. Psalm 119:105 reminds you that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
2. Pray for Clarity. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.” When in doubt, ask. Seek Wise Counsel. God often uses trusted mentors or spiritual leaders to confirm His direction. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”
3. Wait for Confirmation. God’s timing often brings clarity and peace. Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” Examine Your Motives while you wait: Ask yourself, “Is this choice driven by faith or fear, by trust in God or dependence on yourself?”
4. Pay Attention to Fruit. Decisions aligned with God’s will yield spiritual fruit and peace (Galatians 5:22-23). Embrace Open and Closed Doors: Not every opportunity is from God. Pray for discernment to recognize His hand in the doors He opens or closes.

Today, reflect on the decisions that you will have to make. Are they guided by personal desires or God’s direction? Surrender your plans to Him, trusting that His purpose for your life is far greater than anything you could ever ask for or imagine! God is just that Good! For He is God! For He is a Good God! And He loves seeing you going the way He destined and not the way that you designed! Follow God! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, I come before You today, surrendering my plans, desires, and decisions to Your perfect Will. Forgive me for the times I’ve rushed ahead of You, choosing what I thought was right in my own eyes instead of trusting Your guidance. Father, thank You for Your wisdom and knowledge. I confess that I sometimes choose what seems right to me, relying on my own understanding instead of trusting You. Forgive me for the times I have followed my way instead of Yours. Lead me back to Your path, Father. Help me to surrender everything to you and to submit to Your Will and Ways. Father, teach me to trust Your Word and wait for Your direction, knowing that Your way is always best and better way. Help me to quiet my heart and listen for Your voice. Align my steps with Your plans and give me peace in waiting for Your timing. Give me wisdom to discern Your Will and courage to follow it, even when it’s not what I expected. Align my heart with Yours and remind me that Your plans for me are good, perfect, and filled with purpose. Father, if I am on a path not destined for me, redirect my heart and my feet. Strengthen my faith to trust that Your ways are higher, Your wisdom is perfect, and Your love for me is unfailing! I commit my life into Your hands, trusting You to lead me into the destiny You designed. Thank You for loving me enough to redirect me when I was wandering. Father today, I commit my heart and steps to You take.  In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Love, Minister Jean…