A step on the right path?

I was reflecting on Proverbs 16:9, ‘a man’s heart plans his steps, but God directs his paths’ on the drive into work this morning. There are a couple of personal things – rather significant in terms of the ‘path’ directions that I’m trying to determine what the right step is. Finding those steps can be tough. In one decision in particular, the ‘wrong’ step could have serious implications, not just for me, but significantly for others – the ‘right’ step however could open up exciting doors of new opportunities and growth. But which one? Neither step is a question of sin, but the choosing of that step is critical regarding potential outcome.

How do you know then what is the ‘right’ step? Wow, if I could get that nailed down, I truly would have a best seller on my hands. But then, I suppose it would remove the element of stepping out in the adventure of faith.

Over the years, I have developed 4 basic questions that I try to answer to get at my heart when wrestling with what step to take . Now first off, if the step in question is clearly a sin, putting that 'step' through this questioning process is moot. In this case, I simply declaring I chose my way over God’s and He’ll have to deal. That is outside of the realm of this conversation. These questions are for those steps that are more ambiguous in nature and I truly desire to stay firmly on God’s path.

1) Does this step cause me in anyway to compromise or violate the Word and purpose of God, or jeopardize my own person integrity? If the answer is yes, I have my answer. Too many times, I, and perhaps you, have yelled at God for ‘not being there’ when His response is “I didn’t want you there in the first place”. Thank God, literally, that His grace is sufficient, that there is repentance and forgiveness available. Now, I may need to bear the consequences of this decision for sometime – maybe even the rest of my life, I am forgiven. I know this may not sound fair, but, I did make the decision and set a host of realities into being. They don’t evaporate just because I am forgiven. Some of the other related questions I may ask are: Do I have to fudge the truth to make it happen? Do I have to justify to myself why this relationship or behaviour is okay? Does it move me closer to His image or further away?

2) Is the primary intent of this step to elevate, advance or make things ‘happier’ for myself? Or is my intent, to further the Kingdom of God in my life and the lives of others? It is not wrong to desire to move ahead or even be profitable. But if my advancement or profit is at the expensive of my relationship with God or at the expense of another person – again I have my answer. Some decisions do not necessarily fall into this realm; Tim Horton’s or MacDonald’s for lunch. While neither may be a great decision, they are not path altering decisions. Other decisions are path setting – a big part of challenge is recognizing these small steps for what they are or could be. How often I am short sighted regarding the importance of a particular step. I think this one reason the Apostle Paul warns us to take every thought captive. In light our recent learning, this might be similar to the idea of ‘interrogating reality’.

3) Is this step done in ‘faith’ or ‘wish’? I mean, is it a step that God would have me take at all? I’m afraid that many times, my decisions are based on my wishes, desires, and wants rather than on His purpose and Will. This one I find the most difficult to unravel and the easiest to rationalize. My ego can be very tricky – the only solution is diligent prayer and honest self examination of my motivation (search me, try me, examine me to see if there is any wicked way Psa 139:23). ‘What I want’ is an extremely powerful force in our lives. To crucifying the flesh is a difficult and continual death. We have confused personal happiness with faithful discipleship as the chief guide in our lives. God’s way is often the more difficult, and road less traveled. It is one, perhaps, I’d rather avoid because of the cost to my personal happiness. What is at the source of this weakness is my inability to see beyond the ‘now’ and physical into the eternal and spiritual. (I am intrigued by thought of the ‘eternal now’, but that is for another blog)

4) What is the counsel I received from mature Christians. Outside perspective and challenge is vital to choosing the right step. In many counselors, there is wisdom (Proverbs. 24:6). What I generally do is seek out those who tell me what I want to hear. I prefer those that will support the decision that I have already determined is the ‘right’ one for me. This is known as ‘the blind leading the blind’, and both eventually fall into the ditch. I need to hear the voices of those that would hold me accountable to God, purity, integrity and holiness. I may not like what I hear, but I need to listen to it, ponder it, and consider that counsel prayerful. If I chose not to heed it, I take the step at least with my eyes wide open.

If I get green lights on all four, I’m pretty confident to take that step. Experience has taught me however, that just because they all line up, it still doesn’t guarantee ‘successes. I quantify the idea of success because, how I gage success and how God gages success is not always (often?) the same. What seems to be a set back for me, may in fact be a reproving and a strengthening of my faith (read James 1). Even in these times of apparent setbacks and failure, if I know that I have held true to these four questions – I still have retained my integrity and I find that God still keeps me on the path. Frequently, I discover that I come to wonderful unexpected road stops

I wish I was always so careful with all the steps that I take – I seem to retain these questions just for the big ones. But this is a mistake. It is very easy to inadvertently wander off the path and find myself pondering a ‘big’ step on a path that God would have never had me travel. The truth is, it is the many small steps that determine my direction – it is the moment to moment decisions that I seek to yield to God that set the stage for that big step.

Anyway I was just thinking…..

Neil