Then Jesus said to His followers, “If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Ponder It.

Would you prefer to blaze your own trail or follow somebody who knows what they’re doing and where they’re going?

When have you discovered something new while exploring or learning?

When have you followed instructions and steps that you considered ignoring?

Receive It.

Imagine riding in a helicopter to the top of a mountaintop that can’t be reached any other way, at least, in winter weather. You strap on your skis, and the helicopter hovers just high enough and long enough for you to jump and immediately soar down the fresh, untouched snow. It’s as if you’re going where no one has gone before.

There’s something about exploring, inventing, and entrepreneurship. It all involves an exciting a-ha. Newness is admired. Finding uniqueness is…well, unique. One-of-a-kind stands out. It stands alone. We want to go above and beyond, farther, faster. The bigger, the better, whether it’s a product, process, or idea. Yet…All things continue the way they have been since the beginning. What has happened will happen again; there is nothing new here on earth (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Not only can we not do something that’s completely new but we shouldn’t try to blaze our own trail. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be as creative and explorative as we can be, because God is the Creator. He is creative, and we’re created in His image. He wants us to be inquisitive; it’s one of the qualities that drives us toward Him. We seek Him. But we don’t lead God. We don’t blaze a trail where He’s never gone.

Instead of focusing on going where no one has gone before, we need to focus on going where God is leading us. We need to seek the footprints of God and follow them. Our feet fit well on the path of purpose He’s prepared for us. We’d sometimes rather go our own way, but there is a cost. Of course, there is also a cost to following Him. Following assumes a responsibility. When we go where God is leading us, we’ll make the best discoveries we can make. We’ll get to know God better. We’ll know who He created us to be. And we’ll go where He wants us to go, when He wants us to go, discovering every step of the way. Going where no one has gone before doesn’t really apply when we consider and realize God’s sovereignty.

Live It.

Walk a well-established path today. Then step off the beaten path. As you do, realize and acknowledge that God knows just where you are. Better yet, He knows where you’re going. Trust Him each step of the way.