God gives us the free will to decide for ourselves how we want to live, what we want to say and how we choose to interact with the people and things around us.
But free will often comes at a cost. Along with the ability to live and behave as we choose, God has also fortunately given us a blueprint to discern His plan for our lives. This roadmap is the Bible — a timeless book that explains the ins and outs of how human beings are meant to live.
Listen to Billy break down how we get back on track with God:
Some of us choose to follow this “GPS” to the best of our abilities, while others opt to ignore it. The latter carries with it some potential pitfalls, as a life off path from God’s guidance and plan is a life not lived in accordance with the very force that Created and sustains us.
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Proverbs 20:24 summarizes this phenomenon with a stirring rhetorical question: “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”
Pondering that question is essential. How can we understand “our own way?” Why would we want to embark on a windy path without a baseline?
Unfortunately, life is complicated and many of us, at some point or another, get stuck in the weeds — but the wonderful reality is that there’s always a way back.
Perhaps you’re struggling right now. Maybe you’re realizing that you’re nowhere near where you want to be in your relationship with God. Your path has potentially taken you away from His will, and you’ve found yourself meandering and flailing as you try to do it all on your own. Stop. Pray — and crack open your Bible. Again, there is always a way back.
Actress Candace Cameron Bure once told me something about prayer that I believe is essential to revisit. We were discussing those who mock prayer in the wake of tragedy — people who prefer action to invoking God. Here’s what she had to say in response:
“If you don’t start with [prayer] there’s no power behind it, because God’s the power. God can do anything, change anything — change hearts. It’s the heart of all of us that need to be changed and that’s where God needs to get in.”
You can listen to her remarks below:
So, if you’re feeling lost, don’t rely on your own heart; look to God. Prayer matters and it can recenter us and bring us back to the place God wants us to be. It’s a daily struggle, but it’s one we can win with God on our side.
Proverbs 20 also offers up some other powerful reminders about not letting vices control us. Verse 1 reads, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise” and Verse 5 adds, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”
Let’s all find our purpose in God.
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