#13: He Directs My Path

📖“He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:3

All of us face crossroads in life. I think back to nearly fifty five years ago, when as a young teenager in my first year of secondary school, I surrendered my life to Jesus. I remember the quiet assurance that this decision would shape everything. Since then, life has unfolded across continents, callings, family, ministry, and work. None of it has been random. Even when unsure or obstinate, I can trace the Shepherd’s hand, directing my path with wisdom, love, and purpose.

This is why I love Jesus.
❤️ He directs my path

1️⃣ I love Jesus because His guidance is personal.

Psalm 23 does not say the Lord guides people in general. It says He guides me. Jesus is not a distant navigator. He is a personal Shepherd who knows my name, understands my fears, and sees the path ahead with perfect clarity.

He does not simply point the way.
He walks the way with me.

David declares,
“The Lord is my Shepherd.”
Not a shepherd. Not the shepherd of Israel alone. My Shepherd.

Throughout my life, especially in seasons of leadership, ministry, and consulting across Africa, I have come to rely on the personal guidance of Jesus. Sometimes His direction came through Scripture. Other times through prayer, wise counsel, or a sense of peace that settled in the heart. At times, doors closed unexpectedly. Other times, unexpected opportunities opened. Through it all, Christ guided faithfully.

I love Jesus because His leading is not mechanical. It is relational, intentional, and personal.

2️⃣ I love Jesus because His guidance is wise and trustworthy.

Jesus does not simply know the right path. He is the right path.

He says,
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

He does not mislead. He does not confuse. He does not deceive. His wisdom is perfect. His knowledge is complete. His judgement is flawless.

Over the decades, I have led teams through complex decisions, organisational transitions, and uncertain environments. At times, human wisdom has felt inadequate. In such seasons, I found great comfort in the truth that Christ is never uncertain. He sees the end from the beginning. He understands every twist in the road. He guides with wisdom that surpasses human understanding.

When I have felt unsure about next steps, I have often prayed the words of Proverbs 3:5–6,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

I love Jesus because His guidance can always be trusted.

3️⃣ I love Jesus because His direction shapes my character, not just my decisions.

When we ask God for direction, we often want immediate answers. Should I go here or there? Should I take this assignment or another? Should I step into this opportunity or wait? We want clarity. Jesus wants something deeper.

He wants to shape our hearts.

Paths of righteousness are not only the paths we walk. They are the people we become while walking them.

Jesus guides us in ways that:

• Strengthen our faith.
• Deepen our humility.
• Grow our capacity to trust.
• Refine our motives.
• Increase our obedience.
• Draw us closer to Him.

Looking back, some of the most profound seasons of direction in my life were not about choosing the “right” option between two good choices. They were about learning to depend on God, listen to His voice, and grow in spiritual maturity.

Christ’s guidance is not only about destinations. It is about transformation.

I love Jesus because His direction forms my character.

4️⃣ I love Jesus because He directs even when the path is unclear.

There are seasons when the way forward is bright and encouraging. There are also seasons when the path is dim and full of questions.

Uncertainty does not mean Jesus is absent.
Unclear steps do not mean God is uninvolved.
Silence does not mean the Shepherd is not guiding.

Psalm 119:105 says,
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

A lamp does not reveal the whole journey. It gives just enough light for the next step. Jesus often guides this way. One step at a time. One decision at a time. One act of obedience at a time.

In times of transition and new directions, when roles were shifting or assignments ending, the Lord guided my path gently and faithfully. There was always enough clarity for the next step, and His peace confirmed that step.

I love Jesus because He guides even when the way is not fully visible.

5️⃣ I love Jesus because His guidance leads to His purpose for my life.

Jesus directs us for His name’s sake. His guidance is not random. It is purposeful. He leads us into His plans, His assignments, and His calling.

Ephesians 2:10 says,
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

In The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning observes that God’s call unfolds not as a tidy plan we control, but as a grace-shaped journey discovered over time. He notes that many believers only recognize God’s purpose in hindsight, as unchosen paths, unexpected responsibilities, and surprising opportunities reveal a coherence they never designed. What appears accidental is, in fact, the quiet guidance of a faithful God shaping a life for His purposes.

I love Jesus because His direction leads me into the story He wrote for my life.

🎵 My Worship Response
Today’s worship song is “Psalm 23” by Shane & Shane.
“Surely goodness, surely mercy, right beside me all my days.”
This song captures the Shepherd’s steady companionship and faithful guidance through every season of life.

Alongside it, “The Lord’s My Shepherd” by Stuart Townend sets Psalm 23 to a modern hymn form, reminding me that the God who leads is also the God who provides, restores, and protects. It is guidance grounded in trust, not fear.

Together, these songs become a prayer of surrender, an affirmation that my path is safest when entrusted to the Shepherd who goes before me.

🙏 Lord Jesus, guide my path today. Lead me in righteousness. Light my steps. Shape my heart. Help me follow You with trust and courage. You are my Shepherd, and my life is safe in Your leading.

✨ Reason # 13 Why I Love Jesus

He directs my path, personally, wisely, redemptively, faithfully, and purposefully.