In today's society, we need a guidepost like never before. Unfortunately, many are walking away from the true light source (Jesus) and heading straight into the abyss of darkness.
The question we all should be asking is, what is God's Way? To answer that, we can read John 14:6," Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
Jesus said He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! We should be aligning our lives with HIS ways, HIS truths, and HIS life! As we do, we will be walking in God's Ways.
When we walk in God's ways, we will find ourselves being transformed and renewed into people of God that we never knew we could be. We will witness the power of God operating in our lives for ourselves and to impact the world for Jesus!
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How to walk in God's Way: The Way, The Truth, The Life
Here are six suggestins that we can begin to apply to our lives that will help us walk more in God's ways. Ultimately, when we recognize that Jesus is our example and we apply His life to ours, we will see our lives being transformed into The Way, The Truth, and The Life!
1. Walking in the Spirit and Not in the Flesh
Matthew 4:1 (NLT) — 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.
Jesus lived a life walking in the Spirit. You could see it in His actions and words. The Bible says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit is placed inside of us. He is there to be our guide, comforter, counselor, and much more. It should be evident to those around us that we are walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
When we walk in the Spirit, we first and foremost seek to live a holy life. He empowers us to abstain from sin. Romans 8:4 says, "Who no longer follow our sinful nature, but instead follow the Spirit." We are to never give a pass on sin. It should be something we work on in our lives immediately.
I remember two weeks after giving my life to Jesus, I got into a road rage incident. I chased a guy through our town because he flipped me off in traffic. As I was doing it, the Holy Spirit said, "What are you doing? Stop this now!" If we allow the Spirit of the Lord to work on us and we respond, we should see our lives become more holy as the days go by.
I don't know about you, but I love fruits and vegetables. Since I live in Guatemala, I eat some of the freshest produce available because it comes straight from the fields to the markets. Galatians 5:22-23 speaks of the Fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). Just like natural fruits, if you don't partake of them, they will become rotten, moldy, and smell bad. The same can go for the Fruits of the Spirit. If you don't partake and exercise in them, you will see the exact opposite of them operating in your life.
Always consider, are you allowing them to have a place in your life? Are you showing love to those around you? Are you being patient with your spouse or children? Are you being kind to the waiter or the worker serving you? Are you allowing the joy of the Lord to be in your life? I encourage you to be conscious of this. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to keep the Fruits of the Spirit in your remembrance.
Finally, as Matthew 4:1 says, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit." What frequency are you dialed into? Are you tuned into what you want to do in your life, or are you interested in being led by the Holy Spirit? This is something we do daily, not only on Sundays. We should always consider Him and how He wants to lead and guide our lives in all areas.
2. Following God's Plan for Your Life
Luke 22:42 (NLT) — 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Jesus followed God's plan and purpose even to death. He was always following God's direction for his life, and he knew God had a plan and purpose for him to fulfill.
We can see from this verse that He said, NOT MINE. The human nature and will of Christ are clearly seen here. He was as much a man as any man is. Thus, He begged God to choose another way other than the cup (the cross), if possible. The experience of being separated from God upon the cross was too much to bear.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) — 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
God has plans for every one of us. He has given us free will to follow them or not. Just like Jesus, God didn't make Him go to the cross. He chose to obey and follow. In my own life, I don't look at God's plans for my life as a suggestion. I look at them as a command. That is how serious I am about them. I have no desire to do what I want, and trust me, I have desires of my own. I have asked God if I could do them. He has clearly said no!
Remember this: even though you may think your plans are better than God's, trust me, they are not. I left a wonderful career in real estate, which was very successful. Today, I am a missionary in Central America. Even though I periodically dream of returning to the housing industry, I know my ultimate peace and joy is following God's plan.
3. Making Adjustments to Obey God
Ephesians 4:22–24 (NLT) — 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Just like a car, you need to take it in for periodic checkups. You can't just run it hard and forget the preventative maintenance. If you do, it will cost more in the long run. It is no different with us. We have to consistently perform spiritual tune-ups. We need to be at our best for the Kingdom of God.
Ephesians tells us we must let the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes. We do this by going to the Holy Spirit and saying, what do I need to fix in my life? Where am I veering off course? This is healthy and needed. We live in a world that can and will influence us if we allow it. I believe this is something we must be intentional about. By doing so, we are aligning ourselves with the Lord and not falling into the traps of everyday life.
Hebrews 12:1b (NLT) — 1 Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance that race that God has set before us.”
Here in Guatemala, we have a volcano you can hike up. It is a strenuous one at that. You can camp overnight for the spectacular views. Many people hire the locals to carry all their stuff up. They don't want the extra weight. Their goal is to get up there as fast as they can to take in all the views. They don't want to be worn out and so tired they can't enjoy their time up there.
As believers, why would we want extra baggage in life that slows us down? By doing so, we are keeping God from bringing His very best to us; we are essentially allowing the enemy to rob us. We have to constantly assess our lives in prayer with the Lord. We must allow Him to make the needed adjustments, but this must be intentional on our part. It doesn't happen without our efforts.
4. Using Your Gifts to Serve God's Kingdom
Romans 12:6a (NLT) — 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.
The beautiful thing about the Kingdom of God is that it comprises people from all over the world and from different walks of life. I enjoy experiencing other cultures and witnessing God working in them as a missionary.
Just as we all come from different ways of life, God has given us different gifts to be used in His Kingdom. Believers need to see their gifts in operation in the local body (THE CHURCH).
Also, I love how it says, "doing certain things well." Not only do we use our gifts, but you do them WELL. To me, that means excellence. We don't do them with a half heart but a heart that is giving its best to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is reinforced in 1 Peter 4:10, "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. USE THEM WELL to serve one another."
I share with many that as you are faithful in something, God will add more to you. I can testify that the Lord has given me more and more talents as the years go by. I have never been shy in using my gifts, and I have also never resisted learning something new.
The beautiful thing about having God-given gifts and using them is having the reward of witnessing the impact upon others and advancing the Kingdom of God. We are created to give out of ourselves. When we don't, we become stagnated like a stinky pond with no water inflow or outflow. As we give out of ourselves, we will continually be refreshed. It's like a lake with an inlet and outlet.
5. Keeping Faith When God's Ways Don't Make Sense
2 Corinthians 5:7 (LEB) — 7 for we live by faith, not by sight—
Sometimes, we may struggle to make sense of what the Lord is doing in our lives. He may be leading us in a direction that seems foreign to us. The Word clearly says that we must live by faith. We have to trust Him with everything inside of us, knowing that He will not lead us astray. Also, we can't go by what we see. Circumstances and situations will lie to us many times over.
As I am typing today, I can honestly tell you I don't know precisely what God's next steps are for me. I have an idea of where I am going. His desires are bubbling up in my heart for the nations of the world. How exactly will that get pieced together is the question. I am totally cool with it. All I do is get His marching orders day by day. As I fulfill what He tells me, He will give me more orders.
I know that may seem wild to some. I can hear the control freaks in the back of the church saying AMEN in agreement! I used to be one of those control freaks. Over time, I have learned that I mess up things when I get involved. It is way better to let God have His way in my life. As I do, I complete His plans for my life.
Some of you may question how I can be so confident in saying this and follow the Lord. Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one (God) who promised is faithful." God has never failed me, and He is not about to begin. I may not have always understood what He was up to, but as time passed, I could see His plan and why He was taking me this route.
God has NEVER failed me, and He is NOT about to begin.
6. Living for Eternity, Not Just the Present
James 4:14 (LEB) — 14 you who do not know what will happen tomorrow, what your life will be like. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.
I always think about this scripture, and it makes me wonder, in comparison to eternity and my current life in the flesh. One is merely 85-plus years, and the other is eternity (forever). What value should I put on my physical life in the body versus eternity? What considerations should I make here and now? Is my current life more essential or my eternity?
Well, my eternity is more important. If that is the case, then why wouldn't I make all my decisions in life based on how they will affect my eternal life? These decisions are not only for salvation but what will my eternal rewards be the Bible speaks of? How will they impact my eternal experience? Also, when we all die, we will stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives. I want to hear, "Enter in thou good and faithful servant.."
2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (LEB) — 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure and proportion, 18 because we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal.
Apostle Paul is saying, along with other words he has written, "What does our present life matter? Who cares what troubles we face and go through? What matters is the eternal glory coming our way! Stop focusing here and now! Think about what you are doing and how it will impact your eternity! Run your race in Christ, staying fixed and focused on your calling!"
Bringing it All Together
Walking in God's ways is the surest path to a life filled with meaning, purpose, and ultimate joy. While it's not always easy, and we will face challenges along the way, aligning our lives with Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, enables us to stay on the right track.
As we walk in the Spirit, follow God's plans, make needed adjustments, use our gifts for His kingdom, and keep the faith even when things don't make sense, we can experience the abundant life God intends for us.
Most importantly, living for eternity rather than just the present puts everything in perspective. The blessings and rewards in eternity far outweigh any temporary hardships we may encounter on our faith journey.
So, let us fix our eyes on Jesus and walk in integrity and obedience, knowing that as we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find joy, peace, and fulfillment that the world cannot provide.
His way is truly the best way.
Scriptures on God's Way
Ephesians 4:1
Colossians 1:10
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Galatians 5:16
Romans 12:2
Matthew 7:21
John 14:15
1 John 2:6
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean, "My Ways are Higher than Your Ways?"
It comes from the Bible, in the book of Isaiah. God says in Isaiah 55:8, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." This means that God's way of thinking and doing things is much greater than ours.
As humans, we don't always understand why things happen the way they do. We might wonder why bad things happen or why life can be so hard sometimes. But we need to remember to keep our eyes upon the Lord at all times through prayer and reading of His written Word. The Holy Spirit will guide, comfort, and reveal all truth to us.
The Bible also says in Isaiah 55:9 "For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." This shows us just how much bigger and wiser God is compared to us. It's like how the sky is so much higher than the ground we walk on.
When we go through tough times, we can trust that God knows what's best for us. He loves us and wants good things for our lives. Even when we don't understand, we can have faith that God is working everything out for our good (Romans 8:28, NLT). So let's keep trusting in God and following His ways, knowing that He is greater than anything we can imagine!
What is the purpose of living for God?
The Bible tells us that God created us for a reason. In Colossians 1:16, it says, "For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible... everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him."
This means that our lives have meaning and purpose when we live for God. He made us to have a relationship with Him and to bring glory to His name. When we put God first in our lives, we find true joy and fulfillment.
The Bible also says, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10, NLT) God has special plans for each of us. He wants us to use the gifts and talents He has given us to make a difference in the world and to show His love to others.
Living for God isn't always easy, but it's worth it. When we trust in Him and follow His ways, He promises to be with us every step of the way. Joshua 1:9, says, "This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." So let's keep living for God, knowing that He has a great purpose for our lives and will always be there to guide and help us.
What does God say about personal growth?
The Bible has a lot to say about personal growth and how we can become more like Jesus.
2 Peter 1:5-7, says, "In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone." This means that God wants us to keep growing in our faith and in our character. He wants us to be kind, patient, and loving towards others.
God also tells us in the Bible that we can grow by reading His Word and putting it into practice. In the book of James, it says, "But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." (James 1:22, NLT) When we read the Bible and follow its teachings, we grow closer to God and become more like Him.
Remember, personal growth is a lifelong journey, and it's not independent from God. We won't become perfect overnight, but God is always there to help us along the way. Philippians 1:6 says, "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." So let's keep growing and becoming the best version of ourselves, with God's help and guidance.
Shawn Paul is an author and missionary who has been living and working in Central America for the past 10 years. He is passionate about living for Jesus Christ and inspiring others to do the same, which is the focus of his blog, where he shares his expertise in Christianity.
In addition to his missionary work, Shawn enjoys reading books, studying God's Word, growing plants and flowers, feeding birds, and keeping up with the latest technology.
As a writer, Shawn's unique perspective and passion for his faith shine through in his work. Shawn's goal for the future is to impact people around the world for Jesus through his writing and missionary work.