My Way

The other day I had to unpick the stitching in the waistband of a pair of jeans. I sat down to do the job and realised that my sewing box was in the bedroom, but next to me was a box which had a craft knife in it. Even though I knew it was the wrong tool, I was too comfortable where I was, and I began to unpick the stitches with the craft knife. It didn’t take me long to realise that actually I was making the job harder by using the wrong tool, but that didn’t make me stop and get the right tool. When I’d finished unpicking all the stitches I pulled all the loose threads out and saw that I had made one or two little holes in the fabric. If only I had taken the time to get the right tool!

So often in our lives we choose what looks like the easier more convenient way to deal with people, situations and issues. It seems as though we have to try it our way first, before we consider what might be God’s way. This doesn’t just happen in the big issues or decisions, but more often than not it’s more of a problem for us in our everyday thoughts, attitudes and reactions. It can be very difficult to choose God’s way of grace in the face of other people’s ungodly attitudes and behaviour.

Proverbs 3:5-6 talks about trusting and acknowledging the Lord with all our heart and in all our ways. It may be difficult, and seem inconvenient to us, but it’s the only real way to life. If we become unwilling to choose God’s way above our own way, we can become vulnerable to wounding and sin, which opens a way for the enemy to get in. Just as in unpicking the stitches on my jeans with the wrong tool caused little holes, so choosing to do life our own way will cause holes in our lives.

And so often we only read these two verses from Proverbs 3, and may even have memorised them. However verses 7 & 8 are equally poignant and challenging, they read, ‘Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones’. So it seems clear that His way is indeed higher than our way and leads to healing in our lives.

I have a very good friend who has often said to me “God’s way is the only way”, and although this isn’t always easy, I’ve found it to be true.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You love me and have plans for me. Forgive me that I often take what seems the easier way rather than Your way. I’m so sorry for the times when I don’t even consider what Your way might be in everyday situations. But today, Lord, I choose to seek Your way in all things, and ask that You help to recognise when I don’t quite get it right. In Jesus’ name Amen.