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DOING IT OUR WAY

When my daughter left home for university, she told me that she found it very weird how their friends do things differently at their homes. Not all families have dinner together at more or less the same time every evening. Not all families enjoy trips to the Kruger National Park. And not all families have to eat whatever the mother cooks and also pretend to like it!

Our homes are where we learn how to live. Even though we all vow to do things differently when we grow up, we generally stick to the basic life maps that we learn at home. Sometimes, as we grow older, we realize that our parents’ ways were flawed by their own imperfect childhood homes. But by then we have already rubbed off on our kids in the same way. David understood this dilemma.

When David longs to live in the Lord’s house, he also longs for a life map he can trust. “Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path” (Psalm 27:11, NLT). David knew that his own mind and heart was flawed by past mistakes and desires. “Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalms 139:24, NLT).

The book of Proverbs teaches us over and over again that true wisdom is only found in the Lord. “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment” (Proverbs 9:10, NLT). When Christ lives in us, our home in Him is built on the foundation of wisdom. “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and He lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what He teaches is true - it is not a lie” (1 John 2:27, NLT).

Do you feel that some parts of your upbringing have led you on the wrong paths in the past? Do you believe that our heavenly Father can step in where our earthly homes have failed?

Let us learn from our Father by spending time in our heavenly homes with Him. Let us trust Him to lead us on the right paths each day. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking” (James 1:5, NLT).