Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

 

Jeremiah 1:5-12 (AMPC)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth. But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid of them [their faces], for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day appointed you to the oversight of the nations and of the kingdoms to root out and pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a branch or shoot of an almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter]. Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert active, watching over My word to perform it.

 

Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC) For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

 

Romans 5:10 (NIV) For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

 

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

 

How do we discover, remain or return to our path of least resistance in life?? Let's learn some lessons from Abraham, the father of faith.

 

In Genesis 12:1, the Lord told Abram, “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you. But Abraham took Lot his nephew wtih him. Lot being part of Abraham's people and father's household. With time, heated arguments arose between Abraham's household and that of Lot, which eventually led to their separation. You'll agree that how Abraham managed their separation was abnormal. That scenario presents Abraham as a man whose judgement is more informed by God than by his senses or by cultural dictates. This tells us that whenever we are in crisis, let's fall back to our maker for the ultimate decision. And He will, in turn, show us the path He preordained for us, which is the path of least resistance.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

 

Another Abraham experience to help us understand how to return to the path God preordained for us can be found in Genesis 21:9-13. 

But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”

 

Abraham sought God and found peace out of this situation by returning to the path God preordained for him.

 

Prayer🙏🏼