Over the past several weeks, I’ve had a couple different conversations on the topic of decision-making. It’s hard for us to make decisions that we know will ultimately affect our future. Many of us desire to follow Jesus but worry about each decision: whether it’s what He would have us do or not.
This week as I was preparing my message, I ended up reading through Psalm 23 and I realized it has some great insight on decision-making. As our Shepherd, God guides and leads us along the right path, especially in the midst of life’s toughest decisions and uncertainties.
Psalm 23:1-3a says this: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”
Imagine standing at a crossroads faced with a multitude of paths stretching out before you. Each path represents a decision to be made, a choice that could significantly impact your life’s journey. In these moments of uncertainty, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of which direction to take. However, as believers, we can take comfort in knowing that we have a loving Shepherd who guides and leads us along the right path.
Much like an experienced mountain guide who knows the mountain like the back of their hand and skillfully leads their hikers through treacherous terrain, God knows the intricate details of our future. And He also knows the intricate details of our lives. He knows the paths that lie ahead and which direction would be uniquely best for each of us. He leads us with wisdom and discernment, guiding us away from harm and towards greener pastures.
As His sheep, He calls us to trust in Him completely, surrendering our plans and desires to His perfect will and trusting Him to get us back on the right path even when we make mistakes. When we acknowledge God as our Shepherd and submit our ways to Him, He promises to make our paths straight. This doesn’t mean that the journey will always be easy or without challenges, but it assures us that God will lead us in the direction that is best for us. When we fix our eyes on Him and His promises, we can trust that He will lead us through all of life’s ups and downs.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being our Shepherd who guides and leads us along the right path. Help us to trust in Your wisdom and submit our ways to Your perfect will. May we find comfort and peace in knowing that You are with us every step of the way. Lead us, O Lord, and help us to follow you wherever You want to take us. -Amen.
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