His Way, My Way

“For it is you who light my lamp;
    the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
For by you I can run against a troop,
    and by my God I can leap over a wall.
This God—his way is perfect;
    the word of the Lord proves true;
    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

“For who is God, but the Lord?
    And who is a rock, except our God?—
the God who equipped me with strength
    and made my way blameless.
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
    and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my hands for war,
    so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
    and your right hand supported me,
    and your gentleness made me great.
You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
    and my feet did not slip.” Psalm 18:28-36

God’s way is perfect, our way is often difficult. God’s way is perfect, our way is seldom smooth or straight. God’s way is perfect, our way is pocked with stumps and challenge. What does it take to merge the two? How can I align My way with His? How can the rugged path be also a place of springs, the dreaded future a vista of hope, dark vales also glorious heights?

To trust in Him with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding, I learn through time that my actual way is His intended way. To receive my life path gratefully as His intention for my sanctification, I learn to understand the cadence of His voice, and walk with His stride. As I plod on, He proves His faithfulness and teaches me to trust. He is my steady companion and carries me through. He sharpens discernment, intellect, and resolve while softening my heart with grace, mercy, and compassion. He is the One who deepens devotion and prepares the glorious end. (Proverbs 3:5-6; John 10:3-4,14,27)

So would I cease resisting my difficult assignments- the windy roads that seem to go nowhere, the troubled routes overgrown with tangled conflicts, the steep climbs out of pasts I cannot change or control- and trust His higher purposes? Can I see where He might be undoing self-will, retraining bad habits, extricating antagonism and bitterness along my mountain way? Can I submit to His training for spiritual battle, and develop muscles that match my God-ordained tasks at home, at work, in relationships? (Ephesians 6:12-18)

When I count Him my Light, Strength, and Rock, I can rejoice in His equipping and support. He casts divine glimmer on my shadows. His supernatural power invigorates decisions and actions, and helps me balance.

“Long is the way, and very steep the slope,

Strengthen me once again, O God of Hope.

Far, very far, the summit doth appear;

But Thou art near, my God, Thou art near.

And Thou wilt give me with my daily food,

Powers of endurance, courage, fortitude.

Thy way is perfect; only let that way

Be clear before me from day to day.

Thou art my Portion, saith my soul to Thee,

O what a Portion is my God to me.” ~Amy Carmichael

Lord on High, help me prize Your way as the only way. Make me fit for every step by trusting and exalting You as my good and perfect Portion.