They sound very similar, but one day...
As I was pushing a grocery cart that was full and I had a bag or two in my hand; I was struggling to keep the cart going straight.
I, then, went in front of it and guided it; and the struggle wasn't so intense. It was actually easy, as I strolled down the parking lot.
My mind went to parenting.
I give a child a project that needs to be done, like cleaning, my husband has a to-do list, and off go the boys. We tell them that Jesus is the Way. We ask them to speak kindly. We want obedience and honesty.
But do they see...
Sometimes, if I remember the nudging in my spirit and follow the whisper... do it with them, it'll go much easier. Especially if it's a newer project. An even harder nudging is... am I honest? Do I love Jesus with my whole heart? Do I speak kindly? etc...
Guiding or directing....
Walking the path or like they say, "I can't hear what you are saying, your actions speak so loudly", isn't the easy way. It calls something out of us. It calls us to be accountable.
The 'easier way' would be to simply say, to direct, and have the end result turn out...
Maybe this is a bit of a play on words, for we can direct a ship or horse on the correct course, but we are still with them. We don't give direction and let the ship or horse find it's way, we stay present.
The Lord gave His disciples direction, but was ever watchful and present, if not in body, in spirit.
Like when the Jesus told the disciples to row across the Sea of Galilee. While sailing, a storm came up and they were struggling; Jesus, then appears on the water, aware of their present situation.
So, maybe we need both, with guiding being the ever present awareness.
Show Me the Way
Lord, You showed us the way.
You left Heaven
and entered this cruel, sinful world.
Why?
To show us.
To show us a better way.
Emmanuel. God with us.
To show us how You want us to live.
You love.
You forgive.
You spoke words of Life.
You walked this earth-trodden soil
So we could see. another way.
You left Heaven
to give Your life.
For me. For all.
You came to make another way.
Salvation.
Lord, You are our Guide.
The Light for our Path.
Help me, to pass that light and guidance
on to those around me, as I walk with You.
The young ones. The broken and hurting ones.
The lonely.
For what we see speaks so loudly
and often guides our way.
Thank You, that you take our brokenness
and redeem it.
You take our successes and failures
and create beauty.
A melody pure and sweet
that only comes from a life
who is willing to follow You, Our Guide.
