Before we venture off on a journey, we should plan where we are now and where we hope to finish. If we are going to unfamiliar places, it is a good idea to consult a map - at least we know someone has been there before us. Next, we need to know the best way to arrive at our destination. To help us decide what route is best, we may want to consider what would be the most rewarding, the most picturesque, the cost involved (time and resources), go alone or with companions, etc.

Likewise, in this journey of life, we need to consult the Manufacturer’s Handbook, the Bible. There is One who says; “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6

So, with goal in mind to get to the Father, my course is charted. I first must come to this One, Jesus. “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 I wonder how I can be faithful to stay the course, not to get off the beaten track, so to speak, so I read about someone who had gone that route before. He said if I sought Him with all my heart, I would be blessed and favored by Him. Neither would He forsake me. These words I treasured in my heart. And, as I lived by them, they brought me great delight. I even told others about His ways. My cry to Him was that He would continually teach me His ways. I wanted understanding in observing His ways and I wanted to keep them with all my heart. I asked Him to deal bountifully with me, His servant, that I could live in right relationship with the Father and enjoy life and keep His word. I needed my eyes to be truly opened to all the wonderful things that were stored up for me in His Word.

Soon I realized I’m just a stranger in the earth and I needed His precepts to be my counselor, my guide. His spoken word and His righteousness revived me, like cool water on a dusty throat.

Now that I am near my journey’s end and because I have chosen the faithful way and have placed His ordinances before me, I can sing to Him, “because He has dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13:6