Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

Last week I wrote about the Path of Life and today I'm following that up with the assurance that we have as we walk with the Lord. Often we find ourselves faced with conflicting choices or decisions we have to make. How do we make the right choice? How do we know which way to turn? 

The Psalmist gives us the reassurance we need: we have access to a clear word of instruction which leads and guides us. We are the most privileged people on earth as, not only do we have the Creator's written instruction but we also have the voice of that same Creator who will speak to us today. We have the written word of God which is unchanging and applicable to every generation and culture and we also have the Spirit of God who interprets that word and causes it to be life to us. 

There have been many times when I have opened my Bible, maybe for my daily reading or for some other study, and the words I've read have applied directly to a situation I've been thinking about or looking for some direction on. The Father is always speaking, as we listen and allow the Holy Spirit to bring those words to our heart so we discover a pathway that is lit and that we can more easily follow. 

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 ESV)
For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me. (Psalm 31:3 ESV)

In many ways life is a journey. It's a complex path with twists and turns and a lot of uncertainty, often, about which way to go. In Jeremiah 6 (v16) we are invited to pause at the crossroads and consider which way to go. We are invited to choose the good way, the path of life which will provide rest for our souls. It's described as the 'ancient path' and I believe it appears to be overgrown and maybe slightly hidden. 

Today my encouragement is simple. This is not a journey we need to take on our own, we have a guide, someone who will be with us (always) and who will show us which way to go. When you travel to an unfamiliar place a guide takes all the stress out, they know the best places to go and see, the best route to take and the best times to see things. 

God will guide you, he will be with you, he will never leave you. I encourage you to place your hand in his and allow yourself to be led. 

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (John 14:1-2 ESV)

Wouldn't it be good if that were possible, that we could enjoy a trouble free life. A life where there was no pressure, no problems, no restrictions, nothing negative and a full, abundant supply of everything we ever needed. A nice dream, but sadly not a reality we can enjoy. 

When Jesus said, 'let not your hearts be troubled' he wasn't talking about us having a trouble free life like I've just described. He was talking about something much deeper and ultimately more satisfying. He is offering us peace in the storm, a haven of rest when everything around us is swirling into chaos. He offers us a place of safety we can call home, a place lovingly prepared for us. 

The disciples are about to face their biggest crisis, one they can't escape from. Jesus doesn't offer them an escape route but rather shows them a way through it. He does the same for us. In this world we will have trouble (John 16:33) and it is in the midst of that trouble that we are shown the haven of peace. We, too, can discover the safety of being home, held in the Father's embrace, in the safety of his presence. 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 NIV)
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Last week I looked at the cycle of shame that so easily takes a hold of us. I ended with the powerful antidote to shame “The Father himself loves you”. 

Our Father wants us to be free, he does not want us to be held in any prison be it shame, unforgiveness, bitterness or sin. Not only does he want us to be free but he made it possible, by providing the way, for us to be really free and to live in freedom. Paul describes it as the ‘glorious freedom of the sons of God’ (Romans 8:21). 

It was for freedom that we were set free. We are released from the power of shame and therefore those nagging questions do not need to worm their way into our heart. As we walk in our freedom we discover that there is nothing more I must do, nothing more I must have and nothing more I must become. 

We are in Christ, that is our true home and, for each of us, that is a place of freedom. Freedom, by the way, is not the right to do as we please but rather being totally dependent on our Father as we live by the Spirit of life.

In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. (Psalm 25:1–3 NIV).
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We’ve all done things, we do things and no doubt we’ll continue doing things that we immediately regret. All too often, when we feel the first stirring of that regret, there is a little lie that seeks to get inside our heart. It doesn’t really start off as a lie but rather as an innocent question which soon grows into the lie. 

The question is “why did you do that?” or “there you go again”. Immediately there is an opportunity for condemnation and guilt to land in our heart. Then the question grows: “you did that again”, “look at you, you’re not very good are you?”, “you’ve failed again”, “you’re a failure”, “because you’ve failed, you’re not a good person” Before long it’s grown into “you’re not loveable and therefore you’re not loved”. 

What started off as doubt soon becomes a blanket of shame that we pull over ourselves and which causes us to hide. Once it grabs us the cycle of shame begins: there is something more I must do, there is something more I must have, there is something more I must become.

Rather than letting those regrets sink you, can I encourage you to remind yourself of this powerful truth “The Father himself loves you” (John 16:27