“It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect” (Psalm 18:32).

“Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3). It is God’s word that is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12) and lights the way that God has chosen for us as we “take up (our) cross daily” (Luke 9:23) and follow Him. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

We should not fear the Lord’s direction, or correction. “As a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him” (Deuteronomy 8:5,6). He promised “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go” (Psalm 32:8).

He is “acquainted with all (our) ways” (Psalm 139:3) and in order for us to acquaint ourselves with His way for us, He instructs us to “trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6). Our heart attitude must be: “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies” (Psalm 27:11).

We can say with confidence “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Although the path we are on may not be well traveled, “because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14), the assurance from our Lord is that “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). CJH