10 verses for allowing God to direct your steps
I awakened this morning with thoughts of life without God. It occurred to me how terrifying it must be, staggering under the weight of the world without God’s presence, comfort, peace, and direction. Then, an unsettling thought occurred to me: How often do I, as a believer, walk this way? When I insist on living my way and solving my own problems without His input, this is exactly where I find myself! It’s true: He never leaves us…but sometimes, we leave Him!
Anxiety and fear have long been companions of mine. If I’m honest, they still are, more often than I’d like to admit. The everyday trials and tribulations of life all too often become the focus of my thoughts, pushing God and His more-than-enough provision off to the side.
A couple years ago, I noticed that I often had a spinning-in-circles feeling in my spirit. I’d notice my heart racing, my breath becoming shallow, my reasoning faltering, and my ability to make a decision dwindling. God showed me that this feeling was like a warning signal on the dashboard of my car: Houston, we have a problem! This was my cue that I had taken my eyes off God, but oh how easily we ignore that feeling, just like we ignore the “check engine” light in our car! We do well to pay attention to those warnings!
In these unprecedented times, anxiety, fear, and doubt seem to be at a fevered pitch! What if this guy is our president? What if he’s not? What if I get the virus? What if my family gets quarantined? What if I lose my job? What if I can’t pay my bills? What if my kids go to school? What if they don’t?
Do you see how easy it is to get stuck in the hamster wheel of what ifs? Here’s the kicker: Many of these questions don’t have easy answers! We can find answers to some problems by analyzing them, and eventually, we can come up with a workable solution. However, many of these current questions do NOT have simple solutions! So, what? What do we DO? We trust God to walk with us!
As I pondered this, the verses began to flow into my heart. You see, friend, God knew the end, from the beginning. He knew what problems would plague us, and He placed solutions and tools within His Word to equip us. How DO we find God’s peace in the chaos? We take life moment by moment, with God!
10 verses to bring peace to your path
- Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. God created us to depend on Him, and Him alone!
- Joshua 1:9 This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. This is a command, not a suggestion! God grants courage by His power and peace in His presence, but we must choose to walk with Him!
- Psalm 119:105 Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. He doesn’t promise to shine a strobe light on the next decade of life, but to be like a flashlight that reveals each next step.
- Psalm 40:2b He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
- Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
- Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
- Psalm 16:7-8 I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken for he is right beside me.
- Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. I can be so confident in God’s provision in my life that I can lie down and sleep no matter what tomorrow holds, because God holds ME!
- Psalm 23:3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. His strength and provision are sufficient for me, and when I walk where He leads me, I honor Him!
- John 14:27 I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a peace the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. When Jesus left this world, He left the gift of His peace. The world can’t give it, and the world cannot take it unless we relinquish it!
God promises to provide for our needs each day, one need at a time, moment by moment. He extends His grace, mercy, protection, and provision in abundance, as we have need. We need not worry if He can, but we must trust that He will. When that spinning-in-circles feeling strikes your heart, remember it’s a signal to turn back to God! Remind the enemy of your soul that He isn’t in control, and remind your heart that God is!
Jesus, thank you for your peace. Help us remember that it transcends circumstances and human understanding. Help us to trust you as we take each step along life’s journey, constantly seeking you and obeying your commands. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Isaiah 32:17-18 And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest.
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