Pathways

Psalm 16:6 (The Passion Translation)

Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places.
I’m overwhelmed by the privileges that come with following you,
for you have given me the best!

Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

Let those who are wise understand these things.

Let those who are discerning listen carefully.

The paths of the LORD are true and right,

and righteous people live by walking in them.

But sinners stumble and fall along the way.

The Lord obviously wants us to pay careful attention to the paths

He has laid out for us to walk in. 

Paths are supposed to be traveled on a regular basis or else they become overgrown and useless. We may stop a while and enjoy God’s bountiful creation, but as a general rule we need to keep moving. Each of God’s pathways include multitudes of lessons that are uncovered like beautiful vistas around every twist and turn of our walk. Don’t allow the paths of God to become overgrown and impassable due to neglect of spiritual exercise. 

Ps. 16:11

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

It is impossible to travel our life-paths too quickly. They may be uneven and narrow. One should travel carefully and deliberately – making way for others who may pass in the other direction. As we pass strangers, a measure of communication, eye contact and polite greeting is definitely in order. As you walk on your spiritual pathways, enjoy each of the God-lovers who pass by. You never know what treasures God may bring your way. Don’t rush through the lessons of life. Pay attention to the details and rhythms of gracearound every corner. I love this passage from The Message Bible – 

Matthew 11:28-30

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Psalm 32:8

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

I will advise you and watch over you

The Lord as our lives under control. I am determined to keep my eyes on Him. As we move forward...there is abundance:

Psalm 65:11 (NLT)

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;

even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

God's 10 pathways in the Bible that have a name...
The Path Of...

1.  Psalm 16:11 The path of life. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

2.  Psalm 23:3 The paths of righteousness. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (NKJV)

3.  Psalm 119:35 The path of Your commands. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness (delight – NKJV) is found. (NLT)

4.   Psalm 139:24 The path of everlasting life. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (NLT

5.   Proverbs 15:19 The path of the upright. A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright (faithful) is an open highway. (NLT)

  

6.   Proverbs 15:24 The life-path of the wise.The way of life winds upward for the wise, that he may turn away from hell below. (NKJV)

The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind. (NLT)

7.   Isaiah 40:14 The path of justice.With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding?

Proverbs 4:18 The (path) way of the righteous (just) is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

8.  Luke 1:79 The path of peace.To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (NKJV)

And he will illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace.” (TPT)

9.   John 13:17 The path of blessing. You know these things -- now do them! That is the path of blessing. (NLT)

10. 2Timothy 2:18 The path of Truth. They have left the path of truth, preaching the lie that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; and they have undermined the faith of some. (NLT) 

The Paths of the Lord - Part 2 (8 Pathways)

We need to begin with our Hosea verse again:

Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those who are discerning listen carefully.
The paths of the LORD are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.

But sinners stumble and fall along the way.

Today, I want to focus on the names of these pathways. I can find 8 different paths mentioned in the Word. Each of these paths indicate different strengths that are needed in our character in order to enjoy the journey and reach our destination:

• The path of (everlasting) life: 
Ps. 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Ps. 139:24 

Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (NLT) (See also Prov. 5:6; 12:28)

• The path of God's commands: 
Ps. 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. (NIV)

Ps. 119:35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. (NKJV)...for that is where my happiness is found. (NLT)

• The path of the upright (righteous): 
Prov. 15:19 A lazy person has trouble all through life; the path of the upright is easy! (NLT) (...the path of the upright is a highway - NIV)

• The path of justice: 
Is. 26:7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just. (NKJV)
Is. 40:14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding? (See also Prov. 4:18)

• The path of wisdom...or the path of understanding: 
Prov. 15:24 The path of the wise leads to life above; they leave the grave behind. (See also: Prov. 21:16; Is. 40:14 (NIV)

• The path of peace: Lu. 1:79 

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." (NLT)

• The path of blessing: 
Jn. 13:17 You know these things -- now do them! That is the path of blessing. (NLT)

• The path of truth: 
2Tim. 2:18They have left the path of truth, preaching the lie that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; and they have undermined the faith of some. (NLT)

No matter how difficult the journey, or how much work we need to do on our hearts, set yourself on these spiritual pathways, and you will surely walk into blessing.

The Pathways of God - Part 1 HERE
The Pathways of God - Part 3 HERE

The Paths of the Lord - Part 1

I love this Scripture from Hosea:

Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those who are discerning listen carefully.
The paths of the LORD are true and right,
and righteous people live by walking in them.

But sinners stumble and fall along the way.

I am going to take a few days to look over some scriptures on pathways. I am drawn to this concept as we begin the journey of 2012, and I am determined to find even more ways to take my heart on the sweet journey towards God's presence.

These are just a few meditations on taking this journey into God...

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

There is a progression of three things here:

He shows us the path we need to be on. He doesn't hide it, or taunt us with the possibility of guidance or direction - He has promised to show us the path we are supposed to be on. He doesn't keep this from us because we are too poor, too sinful, too faithless...no, He has the path of life for each one, and it is readily available. We need to open our hearts today for the Lord to show the way.

Secondly, once we are on HIs path, we will find the greatest joy in all the earth: the presence of God. This is the fullness of joy - the joy of joys! Nothing can compare to His presence.

Thirdly, He opens His hand to those who are on His pathways. This is His hand of promise, protection and provision. God seems to have a secret plan to bless and delight His people...only it is not such a secret plan, it is just that we fail to see it.  Some live as though God is out to punish them at every turn, but God's true desire is to open His hand of blessing. Even his difficult pathways will lead to treasures. So we could say...

Proverbs 4:18 

But the path of the just is like the shining sun,

That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

Paths of the Lord - Part 2 HERE