As I was reading this post linked in the show notes of today's Bible Recap episode, I was struck by this verse in Psalm 32 (NLT)*.
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
This verse really stuck out to me, as recently I have been praying about where I ought to work this summer, and attempting to seek God's opinion on the matter.
My mind has also been filled with questions about my future. Questions like, "What do I want to be?" and, "Will I go to college?" But look at verse eight. God doesn't say, "I will guide you along the best pathway of life." No! He says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life." Your life. This is not just a one-size-fits-all kind of situation. God has a wonderful plan for the lives of each of his children, and each plan is different!
God understands. He created you. He knows what is best for you. He has a special plan for you, Believer.
Let's look at verse nine.
9 "Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
Huh? This one had me scratching my head. I pulled out my ESV** study Bible and took a look at the verse in that version.
9 "Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you (ESV)."
This still might not make sense to you. It did not help me much. Here is what the study note for verse nine says:
"32:9 like a horse. Horses and mules do the will of their masters only under compulsion (Prov. 26:3). The righteous should obey out of love for and gratitude to their God (study note from ESV study Bible**)."
Don't ignore God's calling. Don't ignore the path he has in mind for you. Trust that he knows what is best. Obey out of love for your God.
As you seek God and his plan, keep this passage in mind.
5 "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." James 1:5-8 NLT
*Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation. You can find all NLT quotes I have used at BibleGateway.com.
**Scripture quotations and study notes marked (ESV) are from The Reformation Study Bible, Student Edition™ (2021), copyright © 2021 by Ligonier Ministries.