After I graduated from high school many years ago, I enrolled in a local college, and worked the entire summer to save extra money for my tuition. But when it came time to sign up for classes, I couldn't get a single one that I needed for my degree. I was frustrated and discouraged, and I only attended classes for two weeks before I quit. I lost most of my tuition money, so I had to go back to working full-time for another whole year. Those were some very difficult days for me, and I struggled to find some purpose and meaning in the delay of my education. When I did go back to school in the Fall, I got all the classes I needed, and I had enough money to pay my expenses. Best of all, the man who was destined to become my husband experienced some delays in his education as well, and we met in one of our classes, and got married sometime later. We've been together more than thirty years now, and I thank God that things happened the way they did.

Thinking about this experience always reminds me of David's words in Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT): "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." If you are a follower of Christ and you're living your life for Him, these promises are for you as much as they are for me. Even though our God is busy running the universe each day, He is never too busy to be intimately involved with every little detail of our lives when we invite Him to be. The thing is that God is a gentleman. He won't push His way into our lives and force us to do His will. He wants to be invited into every area of our lives, and He wants to be asked for His intimate involvement. That's why David says in the same psalm: "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:5 NKJV) As we "commit" our ways to God each day in every situation and circumstance, we open the door for Him to direct our steps in the paths of His best blessings. Notice that David says in this verse, "Trust also in Him." That means that when we commit our ways to the Lord, we must do it with an attitude that says to Him, "I believe You have my best interests at heart." If we have reservations about God's intentions for us, we will never be able to submit to His will and plans the way we need to, and we will rob ourselves of His best.

My sons were 9 and 12 years old when my husband, Joe, and I decided to move from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. We had our boys in a good Christian school, and we were surrounded by families and friends, but our financial situation made it necessary for us to move out of state. We had to place our children in public schools after we moved, and I often questioned why we had to leave some of our closest loved ones behind. But several years later, my oldest son, Joseph, established the first successful Bible club in his high school, and my younger son, John, took over its leadership after his brother graduated. That club touched and changed the lives of hundreds of kids over the years, and it enabled John to meet his future wife, Amy. Joseph attended a local college and became involved in the leadership of the campus Bible club, where he met his future wife, Miriam. As I look back, I can see that all along, the Lord was directing our steps, and leading us toward His greatest blessings.

Scripture says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT) When we place our trust firmly in God--when we refuse to rely on our own pitiful resources, and earnestly seek His will in every situation--He has promised to guide and guard our steps. Maybe today, you are baffled by some of your own circumstances, and you're tempted to despair. Let me encourage you to follow the Lord's recipe for success, and watch Him turn your troubles into triumphs every time!

Prayer: Lord, give me a trusting heart that causes me to really believe that You always have my best interests in mind. Teach me how to call upon You for wisdom and guidance in every situation and circumstance. Thank You that as I commit my ways to You, I will experience the supernatural, abundant life that belongs to me in Christ!