Pathway Formula

Staying on The Pathway

How are you doing on your path today? Are you headed in the right direction? Or are you lost in the woods with no compass? Today’s Pathway Passage gives us God’s formula for staying on His path and avoiding the dangers that lurk along the detours.

Here's our Pathway formula from Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust
-Lean
+Acknowledge
Straight Pathway

Trust in the Lord

It has been said that trust is the difference between believing that a tightrope walker can push you across Niagara Falls and actually sitting in the wheelbarrow while he does. The word trust means to put your full weight down onto something. Not just believing but acting on that belief to the exclusion of all others.

Do Not Lean

Have you noticed that when you see something leaning, such as an old building or a fence post, it appears as though it is about to fall over? Leaning implies a process of collapsing unless something stable intervenes to prevent it.

This Proverb makes it clear that leaning on our own understanding is the opposite of relying on God. Leaning is always looking for a fallback position. Leaning assumes not fully trusting in God by looking for other alternatives, which the world is only too happy to provide. What are you leaning on in place of God that could collapse at any minute?

In All Your Ways Acknowledge Him

In this modern world, how do we acknowledge someone? We might nod to them, or say hello, or even shake their hand as polite ways of recognizing them. But these casual greetings do not begin to describe the acknowledgement intended here.

The word used for acknowledgement means to know thoroughly, to recognize someone for who they truly are. We can only acknowledge God by understanding what He wants from us and being completely willing and eager to follow Him in every step we take.

Make Your Paths Straight

Notice this is not a promise that He will lead us on our own path. God makes our paths straight by removing obstacles and impediments that can hinder our spiritual progress as we follow His path.

This can happen in various ways, from guiding difficult decisions to giving us the strength to overcome challenges. However, the removal of obstacles does not necessarily mean the absence of hardships. Instead, it highlights God’s ever-abiding presence that helps us maneuver through those trials.

When we allow God to make our paths straight, we actively align our will with His in at least three ways:

1. We seek His guidance through prayer and time in His Word.
2. We seek His will in every decision we make.
3. We completely surrender our lives to Him.

These are not half-hearted actions, such as leaning or nodding to Him. These are actions that actively seek Him so that we can fully trust Him.