My Way

“And more, much more than this,  I did it my way!” The velvet voice of Frank Sinatra sang those words after each stanza of his song My Way. Sinatra’s song talked about not having regrets about doing things his way. Elvis Presley to Nina Simone to Jay-Z have done versions of this song. And ironically, they all have probably lived their life by doing “it” their way. “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but its way leads to destruction” (Provers 14:12).

How many times have you frustrated the Holy Spirit by doing things your way? Have you gone through life telling God your plans instead of heeding His direction? Is your way the best way? We serve an all-knowing, all-seeing God, but we often make the decision to do things our way instead of His way. “There is a way that seems right, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). This statement is in the book of Proverbs twice. Culturally when someone says something twice it is for emphasis. For example, if a person tells you that it is raining-raining, they are letting you know that this isn’t normal rain and maybe you should stay inside. If a guy says he likes-likes a girl, he’s telling you that that girl is definitely the one. We atomically understand the impact or emphasis made with those double statements, but neglect to understand the emphasis that God is making when he tells us twice that our way is not the best way.

Honestly, I like the song My Way and have belted out, “I did it my way” a time or two, but as I grow in Christ I realize that I should be singing, “And I Did it God’s Way” because doing it God’s way is the best way. Ironically, Sinatra’s life was not an easy life, and I don’t know if he was a believer. What I do know is God’s way is perfect and that my way may seem right but its end leads to destruction.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for direction even when we don’t follow it. Forgive us for disregarding Your way and doing it our way. Forgive us for embracing flawed people and singing their songs with great resolve while throwing Your Words to the side. Lord, please continue to lead and guide us so we recognize Your way as the best way. Thank You for daily mercies and multiple opportunities to get it right and do it Your way. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.
By Sis. Pat Towns