Straight paths and other insights

On Thursday, I found myself praying to trust God, lean not on my own understanding, in all my ways acknowledge Him. Because I need Him to make my path straight!! (Of course, I had the insight earlier in the week that what looks like a convoluted path may not seem that way in God's big-picture view.)  

On Friday, I was tired and weary and prayed for a word of guidance from God. 

In my Jesus Calling devotional, I found these: 

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” —ISAIAH 42:3

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. —ISAIAH 54:10 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. —ROMANS 8:26

Do not compare yourself with others, who seem to skip along their life-paths with ease. Their journeys have been different from yours ... 

And this from Upper Room, under the heading "Rest for the Weary":

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.- Psalm 68:19 (NIV)  And from Craig Denison's First 15: God is a joyful God. He is the inventor of happiness and fun. Luke 15:10 says, "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Nehemiah 8:10 tells us "the joy of the Lord is [our] strength."   In order to truly declare to the world who our heavenly Father is, we must be carriers of joy. We must be a people marked by the joy that only comes from restored relationship with an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving God. ...

Isaiah 55:12 says, "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." The Lord longs to make us a people that go out in joy. He longs to make us children who are overwhelmed by his love to the degree that the cares of this world pale in comparison to his grace and affections.

 

Ask the Lord for perspective today. Allow the Spirit to help you focus your attention on the true purpose for which you were created: restored relationship with your heavenly Father. Choose the joy of the Lord over the stress and cares of the world.

Choose to "be led forth in peace" rather than led by your flesh. And experience today the lifestyle of carrying the joy of the Lord with you everywhere you go. May others come to know the abundant goodness of your heavenly Father through the way you exude joy.