This is the way!! Walk in it!

When you turn to the right or turn to the left,

you will hear his voice behind you to guide you, saying,

“This is the right path; follow it.” - Isaiah 30:21 (TPT)

It seems as though there are so many voices screaming at us these days. Everyone has an opinion and of course their opinion is correct. This is the diet you should follow. No, follow this one. This is the supplement you should take. No, actually, it is this one. This is the version of the Bible you should read. This is the type of workout you should do. Is anyone else confused? There are so many different ways to go. And if you're like me, you can see the good in almost every one. Which creates anxiety in decision making.

At the beginning of the year, so many of us are looking at the fresh start to begin a new routine. We want to make a plan to reach that goal. But which path do we choose. There are some people who would say, "It doesn't matter. Just pick one." And I can see where they are coming from. Sometimes we need to just put one foot in front of the other rather than being paralyzed with trying to find the right thing.

While there is validity in that way of thinking, I also believe that, especially as followers of Jesus, we can know the perfect path for us. The key to finding our specialized path, is by listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. As it says in Isaiah, as we walk along our path, we will hear a voice behind us telling us which direction we are to follow.

Seems easy enough, right? The problem with this is there are many of us, even those who have been believers for a long time that don't feel confident in hearing the voice of the Lord. What causes this lack of confidence?

1. Other voices - There are so many voices vying for our attention. There are advertisements of various programs. There are health couches, naturopaths, various supplementation programs, etc. Then we have the testimonials of our friends. Whenever you see a friend who is healthy, the first question we often ask is "what are you doing?" What is implied behind the question is often, "just tell me what I need to do to be healthy like you." The only problem is that every friend we talk to, found there path to health in a different way. Which brings us back to the question, "Which way should I go?"

2. Doubt - Some of us have been given very clear direction from the Lord which way would be right for us. And we follow that path for a little while. But then, we second guess. We aren't getting the results that we were after as quickly as we had hoped. Sometimes, we experience some detox reactions which make us feel terrible, and if we don't have a firm resolve to follow the path laid out for us, it can be tempting to abandon the plan. After all, we aren't feeling better we're actually feeling worse. If I am honest with myself, this is a category I find myself in frequently. The great news is that if we find ourselves having abandoned the original plan laid out for us, we can always go back. There is so much grace.

3. Lack of Confidence - For others it is the feeling that leads to a belief that they can't really ever know what God's best is. And really for those who find themselves in this place, the place to begin is changing your belief. Jesus said in John 10, "My sheep know my voice." He didn't say my sheep can know or they might know. He simply said they do. So if we belong to Jesus, we must believe that we do know the voice of God. There are ways we can tune into His voice more clearly, but that is for a different post.

I do want to encourage you. As you begin or continue your journey to greater health, there is a path marked out just for you. In fact, I love this verse in Proverbs where Wisdom says, "I have insight into wise plans that are designed just for you." (Prov. 8:14 TPT) All we have to do is ask believing that we know His voice. Take some time to be quiet today and just listen. What is the path that the Holy Spirit is leading you to take? What kind of diet is He leading you to? If you feel His nudge, then take that path trusting that you hear Him and that He knows more about your body than you do. Look for clues found in what you enjoy. Remember God made you. Take a step. Trust that you hear Him. And if you find that you have wandered from the path and you have lost your peace, then simply go back to where you heard Him last and continue from there.

If you are new to listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and would like to have someone to come alongside you as you begin this journey, I would love to help. Please contact me. Sometimes its helpful to walk with someone. It can release greater levels of confidence and accountability. It would be my honor to walk with you.

Remember that there is a path marked out for you. A path that leads to the abundant life and complete wholeness. I pray that you will have the confidence and take the risk to begin that journey today!