Navigating the Forks of Life

Every day we are faced with new challenges and some of these involve decisions and choices that have the potential of altering our lives forever. We make minor decisions constantly, which route to take to work or the store. What to buy when we get to the store. What to see when we get to the movie theater.

Choices, decisions, forks in the road of life—all providing an alteration to the path we are currently following. We learn over time how important it is to put some thought into how we choose to navigate each of these forks to make the most of every decision.

But unfortunately, we don’t always choose the right path and regret or failure soon befall us. If we continue to follow paths of wrong choices, our lives become a web of troubles and failures often leading to difficulty and hardships. Maybe I am talking about your life right now? Maybe your life has been plagued by bad choices that have landed you in ruin?

It probably didn’t just happen overnight. It started out with a bad choice every now and then. But before long it became a lifestyle for you and now it encompasses and controls your whole life. Despair and defeat seem to be your reward at every intersection of life?

God rescued the nation of Israel from the hand of the Egyptians—400 years of slavery! After a time of struggling in the wilderness, they found themselves in the Promised Land. Life was going great, God was blessing them tremendously but they struggled with navigating the forks of life. More often than not, they chose the wrong path and ended up in peril and away from God.

King David led the nation to a pinnacle of greatness through his rule though he made some bad choices along the way. Still, God blessed the nation. King Solomon built the most glorious temple the world had ever known and the nation gained world-wide notoriety. But Solomon made many bad choices along the way. His seven hundred wives introduced the pagan gods of the world into the nation of Israel and it wasn’t long before the nation was split in two.

Over the years, the nation continued its path of bad decisions, eventually landing both parts back in captivity. But, God didn’t write them off! God continued to love them through it all. Certainly He hated their choices but He loved His people just as He continues to love you today. Regardless of the wrong forks you’ve taken and the bad choices you’ve made, God still loves you and desires to draw you back into His arms of love.

As the enemy stood ready to take the Jewish people into captivity for their ungodly choices, God issued a promise to them through His prophet, Jeremiah. He declared: “When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10 HCSB). The people had shaken their fist in the face of God through their actions, choices and lifestyles; yet, God promised to make it all right.

He went on and described what He would do for them not only in their near future but throughout all eternity. He promised: “For I know the plans I have for you—plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you. I will restore you to the place I deported you from” (vv. 11-14).

That is His promise to you today as well! God has a plan for you and for your life. It is a plan of wellness, happiness and eternal life, if you simply place your trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. God wants to restore you today. It doesn’t matter how far you have ventured away, His arms of love are long enough to reach you right where you are and draw you back to Him. But, you must surrender yourself fully over to Him.

As you navigate the forks of life, it is important to remember there are always at least two choices you can make. One of those choices is always the right choice, the others not nearly so much. The only right choice is through Jesus. Only you can make that decision to navigate your life down the right path.

King David committed a terrible sin against God and as he was finding his way back, He wrote this Psalm of repentance. Maybe, it needs to be your Psalm today:

Scripture Reading: “Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You-You alone-I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart. In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.” (Psalm 51 HCSB)

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I have lived my life making bad choices, making wrong choices, and living out the consequences for those. I pray You forgive me; cleanse my heart and life. Remove the desire in me to follow after my own ways and help me to focus directly upon You. I commit my life to following the path that leads to You. I commit to walking beside You and being led by You when life becomes rough. Father, I pray You take control of me and mold me into the person You desire me to be. I love You and thank You for not giving up on me—for always being there for me! I praise You with my whole heart. In Jesus’ name…AMEN!