YOUR CROSSROADS AND GOD'S ROADMAP
"This is what the Lord says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jeremiah 6:16.
Just because a certain path seems right doesn't mean it's the right one. But that does not mean it is wrong either. We must, therefore, ask and trust God to show us which way to go. He knows the end from the beginning. God will lead us in the right way.
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11.
What a wonderful thing it is to know that even when we are faced with the biggest and most difficult decisions in life, God makes known to us the paths that will bring life.
WHAT ARE CROSSROADS?
Literally, a crossroad is a road that crosses another. It is the place where two or more roads intersect. Figuratively, to be at a crossroad is to be at a stage in one’s life when it is necessary to choose a path that will affect one’s life in profound ways.
A crossroad is a place of decision. It is a place of doubts and questions. A crossroad is a place where we wrestle with conflicting voices. It is a transit point. A crossroad is a gate or access point. It is a place of separation and goodbye. A crossroads is the end of a chapter and the beginning of another one. A crossroad is a critical moment. It can be a place of crisis, where the pains of yesterday connects to the hope of tomorrow. A crossroad is a place of opportunity, where the road ahead offers promises. A crossroad is a point in your life where you have several options that you need to weigh. Each option will lead you to a different destination or goal. Each path to a different place.
Crossroads are unavoidable. Everyday we make significant decision that will affects our lives positively or negatively. The choice to continue the same straight path is no longer possible. A decision has to be made. The straight road has now split into two or more. Which decision will you make? Looking left, right, back from where you came, and looking straight ahead. Where do you turn? Do you turn back to where you came, choose a path to follow, or do you stand around in the middle of the road? Which road is the right one? And what's the consequence of choosing a decisive path?
Today, you may be standing at a crossroad. Your crossroads could be one to decide your ministry or career path. It could be the start or end of a relationship. Your crossroad could be a choice of making a change right now or it will be too late. It could be the choice of what course to study. Your crossroad could be whether to start a business or hold on to your job. Perhaps you are in a crossroad where you are faced with the decision to stay where you are or move to another place. Whatever you decide to do, it will definitely affects the course of your life and destiny.
When standing at the crossroads, the one thing we really need is guidance. God has a path for us! He promise to guide, instructs and direct us when we are at the crossroads of life. "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." Isaiah 30:21. God will always give you direction. But you need to sharpen your hearing ability.
DIVINE GUIDANCE & DIRECTION!
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." Psalm 23:1-2. When God is your Shepherd, you have access to all things that you need. Divine guidance is God having the final say in running the affairs of your life. When He's leading, you are never alone. God has a blue print for your life and a road map to get you there.
WHAT TO DO WHEN AT LIFE'S CROSSROADS?
1. Know God.
Do you know Him? Most people know about God, but they don't really know Him. To know God is to spend time with Him. It is a relationship! To know God is to obey Him. To know God is to fear Him. To know God is to trust Him unconditionally.
You must have a continuous daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
2. Be known by God.
Are you a child of God? Is Jesus your Lord and Saviour? You must be born again.
3. Pray the prayer of enquiry.
Prayer of enquiry is prayer for insight, guidance and direction. It is asking God what to do about a particular situation. Prayer of enquiry is to know God's will concerning an issue. It is a prayer to ask God why? Which? How? and When?
Ask him to give you ears to hear and eyes to see the ways He is speaking to you.
Consider fasting occasionally to help you focus more on God.
4. You must have faith.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight:" 2 Corinthians 5:7. It is not for those who will walk by sight or logic. Have unconditional faith in God's promises to guide you.
5. Cultivate the presence of God through praise and worship.
Praise invites God into your situation immediately. And where God is, there is liberty and fullness of joy. He will guide you when you give Him high praise and worship.
6. Dig deeper in the Bible.
The Bible has been rightly defined as, "Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth." The Bible is our spiritual GPS, always available to tell us which way leads to where we want to go and how to turn around if we get on the wrong path.
7. Be humble. Psalm 25:9.
God loves humble people
8. Cultivate quietness.
Set aside a consistent time every day to meet with God. Try starting out with a half-hour quiet time, and after you've developed greater intimacy with Him, increase that time to an hour. It usually takes about five to ten minutes during the start of your quiet time to clear your mind enough to focus fully on God, so don't rush your quiet time.
9. Practise unconditional love.
Live without unforgiveness, malice, bitterness and anger.
10. Listen.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27. God can speak through the following ways: His Word. Psalm 107:20; Audible voice. Genesis 12:1; Dreams. Judges 7:13; Visions. Genesis 46:2; and Prophets. Ezra 9:11. Let your heart be still. Block out the distraction. Tune in to heaven's radio.
11. Seek wise counsel
To some people, crossroads are places of confusion. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions and seek wise counsel from family, trusted friends, a pastor or counsellor.
12. Be patient; Don’t be in a hurry.
No matter how long it takes, be confident that God has heard your prayers and will respond. Let your mind be at rest. Don’t try to rush through the process.
"Show me your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths." Psalm 25:4.
There is comfort in knowing God is guiding, leading and instructing us, especially when we are standing on crossroads. But, not many people are willing to ask for direction. Come to God today! Don't live your life on logic, human reasoning, and trials. It will only lead you to broken heart, failures and, disappointments. God has a better plan. Don't take steps on your own or make important decisions without asking Him. Always strive to know the will of God concerning everything you are doing.
SO, WHAT'S YOUR DECISION?
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14.
There is no neutral ground.
The Lord Jesus, who on the Cross at Calvary made the greatest sacrifice for us at the crossroad of Golgotha, said there is a broad road that leads to destruction and a narrow road that leads to eternal life. What road have you chosen? If you realized you are on the wrong road, why not repent and get on the right road today?
If you are willing to repent and surrender your life to Jesus Christ, then pray this prayer right now: LORD Jesus, I come to You right now. I know I am a sinner, please forgive me my sins. With my mouth, I declare that Jesus, from today, I accept You as the LORD of my life. Change my heart from a disobedient heart to a heart that will obey You. With my new heart, I believe that it is because of me that You came into this world; You died for my sins, take away my problems, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, write my name in the Book of Life, and make me brand new in Jesus mighty name.
PRAYER POINTS
1. O Lord, have Mercy for placing my confidence in human reasoning, in Jesus name.
2. By Your Mercy, O Lord, save me from every wrong decision I have made, in Jesus name.
3. O Lord, open up my spiritual understanding, in Jesus name.
4. O God, teach me deep and secret things, in Jesus name.
5. O Lord, thank You for the revelation power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
6. O God, remove from me every form of distractions that has blocked my spiritual eyes and ears, in Jesus name..
7. My Father, give me the spirit of revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of You, in Jesus name.
8. Open my spiritual eyes, O Lord, to see visions concerning my life, in Jesus name.
9. I reject the manipulation of the spirit of confusion, in Jesus name.
10. My Father, guide and direct me in knowing Your mind, in Jesus name.
11. If . . . (mention it) is not Your will for me, O Lord, re-direct my steps, in Jesus name.
12. Thank God for answering your prayers.
