Learning God’s Way

Psalm 32:8  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

We’ve all seen the father who teaches his child how to ride a bike, even if it’s only in those touching television commercials.  The father balances the child’s bike as he runs alongside, providing a stabilizing influence and assurance of safety.

But eventually the father must let go and allow his children to balance themselves as they continue on down the road without them.  It’s how they learn . . .  even through their mistakes. Trust issues are involved on both sides. A father needs to trust that his child won’t try crazy actions like riding down a steep rocky path, stupid, dangerous tricks or ride in traffic without being extremely aware of his surroundings.

It would be quite degrading and perhaps humorous however to see that father running alongside his child at 19 years of age, still holding on to the back of the bike to steady it.   Of course the young child will probably fall off a few times from inexperience, but he also knows that his father will be close by to offer comfort and encouragement and to never give up trying!  The father must back away eventually – for what child constantly wants a parent hovering over them?  . . . it’s the only way a child learns to make sensible choices.

Our Heavenly Father is like that. Through His Holy Word, He trains us to do the right thing.  He patiently allows us to learn even though He knows we’ll make mistakes sometimes.  He cares deeply but doesn’t hover over us, rather He allows us to make our own choices . . . even if that desire is wrong.

Of course we’ll make the wrong decisions sometimes, usually in our daily habits. We’re not flawless beings. Something as ‘simple’ as overeating at a sumptuous buffet, compulsive shopping, procrastination could begin to rule our lives. Some could even prove more disastrous: such as alcohol,drug, smoking or eating addictions that produce serious physical illnesses.

We’ve all chosen some wrong options which we wish we could take back, but our Heavenly Father is there to provide comfort when we fail. He knows we aren’t perfect and readily forgives if we sincerely ask for forgiveness.  And just like the child who stumbles sometimes, our Father won’t disown us for our mistakes.

“Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s love. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger or threatened with death? No! Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us.” Romans 8:35-37

The first step in change is awareness. Own up to mistakes, ask forgiveness and take steps to overcome addictions.  We must stop blaming someone else for failure because we are the only one who lives in our body. No one else made those choices but us. To paraphrase Dale Carnegie, no one does anything without wanting to.  Sure, someone could put a gun to your head and demand money, but we give it to them freely because we don’t want to die.  Choose wisely and God will direct your paths.  Trust God and claim victory!

Proverbs 3:5, 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”