Image by Melissa Clayton
“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.”
I went through a phase once when I was a little girl in which I would only wear dresses. Day and night – you could bet that I was wearing a dress of some kind, probably with a little bit of pink or sparkle. It was cute for a while but turned ugly when my allegiance to dresses caused me to be opposed to anything that wasn’t a dress, sometimes to the demise of my mother.
One day in particular, I didn’t like what she was wearing. And with all of my 5-yr-old pride, I got down on the floor, began kicking and screaming, and exclaimed at the top of my lungs
“I wont go anywhere with you until you change your outfit!”
Yeah, I was sassy. I laugh now, but this is totally my spiritual life at times. Some days, I’m all about Jesus’ plan (His “outfit,” if you will). I’m all about the sacrifices and patience with His timing.
But, most days I’m kicking and screaming dramatically, telling God I don’t want to do it His way. I am that little girl who cannot stand Jesus’ plan because it makes her look bad, uncomfortable, or because she just plain doesn’t like it.
Man, I’ve got to get over that stubbornness…I love today’s verse in John 14 because it challenges me to do just that: Get over myself.
Jesus doesn’t play around and offer other plans to the apostles.
He doesn’t say,
“your way is fine, we can go along with that for a while, regroup, and take the next step…”
No! He says,
“I am the way.”
What freedom when it is not up to us to determine the way! Jesus even goes so far as saying that He is the way, truth, and life. He is not just the way because
“I said so”
but rather because He is what will bring you to truth and life.
Life, sisters! Oh how we so long for abundant life.
But, Jesus doesn’t just begin and end there. He actually begins His discourse by saying,
“Do not let your hearts be troubled…”
(Shoot, Jesus stop reading my mind.)
“I am going to prepare a place for you.”
His way is not a canvas for which we follow the rules, but rather a path to a dwelling place of joy. Do not fear His way. He’s totally thought this one through.
Today ask yourself, what is it that holds you back from accepting Jesus’ way? Take some time to discuss your fears and hesitations with God. And when you are ready, pray this prayer with me:
“Lord, save me from myself. Your path and your path alone leads to truth and life. Please guide me. And when I stray off the path, send your holy mother, the saints, and angels to redirect my way. May I never stray from you. Amen.”
