A few years ago, I awakened at 3 a.m. with a phrase repeating in my thoughts. It had become customary for God to encourage me in this way in the wee hours of the morning. Not wanting to forget the words echoing in my mind, I grabbed pen and paper and quickly jotted them down. What I wrote was not overly profound nor did it immediately change the way I thought or behaved. As a matter of fact, that piece of paper was tucked into my journal and forgotten for a season. Here’s what I wrote:

“There are blessings in God’s ways.”

So why this phrase?

In hindsight, the morning encouragement was preparation for the days to come. When the storms of life hit and I didn’t know which way to turn, this phrase repeated in my spirit, encouraging me to seek and walk in God’s ways. I learned to lean on Him during the hard decisions, and I am still learning to lean on Him for the everyday decisions.

On the other side of the storm, I can say with great certainty, there are indeed many blessings in doing life God’s way. In allowing Him to direct my path, I keep my life free from shame, regrets, and messes.

How do we walk in God’s ways? By understanding who He is and what He says; by committing to prayer and Bible study; and by nurturing a relationship with Him.

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on His law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.