How to Know the Right Path for You

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Baseball legend Yogi Berra was known for crazy sayings that came to be known as “Berra-isms.”

One of his more famous sayings is…

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

But which one? How do you know which road to take?

David evidently had a decision to make. He had come to a fork in the road and didn’t know which way to turn. So, he turned to the One who could best guide him. He wanted to know the right path…

Show me the right path, O Lord;
    point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by Your truth and teach me,
    for You are the God who saves me.
    All day long I put my hope in You.

Psalm 25:4–5

David knew he had chosen the wrong path occasionally in the past. He didn’t deserve God’s guidance. He couldn’t earn it or buy it.

All he could do was humbly ask…

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
    Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love,
    for You are merciful, O Lord.

Psalm 25:7

And trust…

The Lord is good and does what is right;
    He shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right,
    teaching them His way.

Psalm 25:8–9

Life is full of paths:

• where to go to school.
• what career to pursue.
• who to marry.
• when to marry.
• which apartment to rent or house to buy.
• how many children to have.
• who, what, where, when, which one, how many.

Choosing the right path can feel daunting especially when we feel that our decision can have life-long implications.

Rev and I talk often about the many “right path” choices we’ve needed to make in the past. We’re not always sure we chose the right option . . . there were times when we acted too quickly and times when took misguided advice.

Times when we, like David, had to pray…

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
    Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
    for you are merciful, O Lord.

Psalm 25:7

There were times when we, also like David, prayerfully went to the Lord and humbly asked Him to show us the way He wanted us to follow. The right path . . . the One that He had already prepared for us.

Jeremiah wrote…

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 

Jeremiah 29:11–13

So, if you’re facing a fork in the road, don’t just take it.

Go to the Lord for guidance.

1. Pray – Ask Him to help you know the right path.
2. Ask if each of the paths equally glorifies God.
3. Ask if either path will better help you obey God.
4. Pause and wait for His guidance.
5. Trust God. He is able to accomplish His will in your life.
   If you’d like to know more click here to read 5 Ways to Know if Something is From God.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer Asking God for Help Choosing the Right Path

Father, life is full of choices and decisions. Some seem easy but some seem to have lasting significance. Today I come to You and ask You to “lead me by Your truth and teach me.” I want to make a wise choice and want to know the right path. Please help me.

I know I have not always chosen wisely. Please forgive me. I have had times when I’ve followed unwise counsel. I’ve had times when I’ve acted too quickly. And I’ve had times when I’ve chosen selfishly. I’m so very sorry.

I trust and believe that You know the right path for me. I believe that You have plans for my future that are for my eternal good . . . plans that will give You glory. That truth gives me hope. It inspires and encourages me. So, I humbly ask today that You will guide and direct my steps, so that I might follow Your will and Your way. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Pastor Rick Warren points out how easy it is for us to choose foolishly…

 Many of our troubles occur because we base our choices on unreliable authorities; culture (“everyone is doing it”), tradition (“we’ve always done it”), reason (“it seems logical”), or emotion (“it just felt right”).

He’s right, isn’t he?

Even though we believe we want to know the right path and choose it, we can end up looking to culture, tradition, reason, or emotion.

If we truly want to take the road God wants us to follow . . . the one that’s right for us and that gives Him glory. We need to humbly go to Him in prayer asking for His guidance.

And then we need to follow where His will leads us.

God’s Will will always align with God’s Word and it will always give Him glory.

Jesus prayed these words for His disciples and for us in His “High Priestly Prayer.”

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

John 17:17

And Paul wrote…

Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31b

May we humbly and prayerfully know the right path and choose it . . . the one that aligns with God’s Word and that gives Him glory. May He give us peace and hope as we place our trust in Him and follow His will.

Click here to read Psalm 25.

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