There is no shortage of opinions and sources for information in our world today, am I right?  How can we decide between so many voices?

Let me start with what I’m not saying . . . I am not saying that we do not take advantage of the great sources of information available to us today, like the Internet, professors, or textbooks. However, the question remains, in the midst of life, how do we sort out what’s true from one opinion to the other?

For Pam and me, no week goes by that we don’t encounter a friend, work associate, or family member who is looking for guidance on a particular topic. It may be discovering the right path on a desperate personal health issue, a complicated work challenge, a financial decision, a challenge with caring for an aging parent, or a job transition. Sound familiar?

A passage that highlights the stand-alone importance of God’s Word in guiding our lives is Proverbs 3:1-8. Note that the foundation is laid in verse one. Everything that follows is built on that premise:

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity . . .

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil. 
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones (Proverbs 3:1,2,5-8 NIV, emphasis added).

We have been designed by God to follow in His paths and His teachings. When we follow His truth, verse 6 says that, “he will make your paths straight.” Our confidence in finding the right path is built on keeping God’s commands in our heart. Temptation and the pressures of life so often entice us to find wisdom in ourselves—to be wise in our own eyes.

In Psalm 119:105 the psalmist says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (NIV).

Where do you tend to look for guidance in life? Is there someone around you that can help you learn to find guidance from God and the Scriptures? Is there a challenge you are currently facing where you need God’s direction?