In Jesus’ Steps // Proverbs 16:9

The last couple days gave us a little trend — a miniseries, if you will — about repentance and dealing with temptation. As we make those moves of turning and resisting, we must also be mindful of where we want to go in life. Today’s verse helps us see the reality that we can make plans, but it’s the Lord who establishes our steps. I do not see this as a violation of free will. God is always engineering things, providing us the opportunities to make our own decisions be they good, bad, or indifferent. Going to God in prayer and studying the scripture is essential to get on the same page as the Lord. He will help reveal the plans He has for your life and show you which way to go. This is one of the primary reasons we see Jesus invite people to follow Him. He didn’t’ force or compel anyone. That invitation, though, came with a reality: things could get tough in the near term, but the eternal benefits are out of this world. Turn your heart to God. Pray, listen, and trust. Then, follow Him so the steps He establishes for you are actually in line with Christ’s very own.