Ancient Paths.
The words first came up in conversation with a friend. They appeared the next day in a book (The Artist’s Rule) I was reading. Soon after, were discussed in an online group (The Breathing Room).
After listening to an Andrew Peterson song, 🎶 “You’ll Find Your Way”🎶 and hearing “ancient paths”, I was convinced God was speaking to me.
“Thus says the Lord: stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for ancient paths: where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 NIV
Because of the repetition, I began to get curious. “Does God have something deeper here for me—that I need to be paying attention to?”
Do you remember the Tom Hanks movie, “Cast Away”? Near the end of the show he stands at some crossroads, ❌ faced with decisions. If he goes one direction, his life could turn out one way. If he chooses another direction, his life could take an entirely different turn.
Everyday we are faced with multiple decisions. Some small choices and not incredibly important, others big—even life-changing ones, perhaps. How do we know what to do?
God’s word tells us in Jeremiah. When we stand at the crossroads and look, we are to look for ancient paths—where the good way lies—and walk in it. The result? Rest for our souls. And who doesn’t want rest for our souls? 🙋♀️
When we search God’s Word, He speaks. We learn what God’s voice sounds like. In Proverbs 3 we read when we acknowledge God in all our ways, He makes our paths straight. Staying in God’s word, seeking His truth—not our own understanding (which gives way to feelings or lies), is the “ancient paths” He’s talking about.
I challenge us to seek those ancient paths—those roads leading to truth so when faced with difficult decisions we can rely on God to direct us. Anybody want to join me at the crossroads? ✝️