God Ordered Steps

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmzCyxHIYoI

Have you planned out your whole life? Where you will go, what you will do, where you will live? What if your plans are different than what God has in store for you? Have you presented your plans to God? Let us remember to not only plan for our future, but to submit our plans to God as He has the final say. He is the author of our lives and He has written our story. After all, God is the potter and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8).

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

11 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.

Proverbs 16:9 NLT

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.

Proverbs 19:21 NLT

You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we want to be in God's will and walk in the purpose God has given us. Sometimes our plans are different than what God is asking us to do. We must remember that our life is not our own. God is the best decision-maker. He gave us this life and we must be willing vessels to be used for His glory. How do we become a willing vessel? We surrender to God. We say yes to His will and Yes to His way. When we surrender to God, we do not have to wrestle with God. Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-32). Sometimes, we do the same thing trying to get our way and accomplish what we want. Why not trust and surrender? Let us say, not my will , but God’s will be done. God's ways are higher than ours. We must look to God and accept His plans in our life. Just as we seek God when we need help, we must also seek God daily even when things seem to be going smoothly. We must constantly be in a posture of prayer and display our willingness to be used by God.

Psalm 121:1-2 KJV

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, Which made heaven and earth.

If we look to God when we need help, we should also remember to look to God when it seems we have it all together. We look to God at all times, in times of need, in seasons of testing and in times of harvest.

No matter the season we are in, we continue to trust and seek God. There are events that happen in life that are unexpected, but we must also remember the many blessings God has given us that we could have never predicted. We do not know every step of the journey, but we trust God and ask him to lead us in every perfect step he has for us to take on this path of righteousness. 

Matthew 7:13-14

King James Version

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

We want to stay on the narrow path God has designed for His saints. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior we are now walking on the path of life, escaping the wide path of destruction. 

Jude 1:24-25 King James Version (KJV)

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Remember that God has ordained for us to stay on the right path. He is keeping us from falling. We must be obedient to his instructions and accept His guidance when we pray and ask for wisdom. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

King James Version

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Wherever God is sending you, go by faith and walk in obedience. We can learn from Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. This was not a part of Jonah’s plan. Jonah wanted to stick to his plan and was disobedient to God. He ended up in a whale. God gave Jonah a second chance (Jonah 3:1-3) and Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord this time. 

Let us remember to be obedient and go by faith. By asking God and listening to God, we can avoid some trials that we really did not have to go through. God gave Jonah instructions to do something. He also gives us instructions and warns us of things we should not do. Think of Adam and Eve, God told them not to eat from the tree of knowledge but they were disobedient. They were protected from sin until they disobeyed and sinned. What would have happened if they listened to God? Disobedience can open up a door for many trials and hardships. Obedience to God tests and protects us. 

We are servants of the true and living God who has ordained great works for us to accomplish through Him. May we seek God daily, accept His plan for our lives, and walk in obedience to Jesus Christ. Let us continue to ask the Lord to order our steps in His word. God will do great and mighty things, let us walk in His will and be used by Him. Let us trust God, not worrying about tomorrow (Mathew 6:34) God is already there. Trust God's good plan (Jeremiah 29:11) with faith.