How can we "consider our ways" in our daily walk with God? Setting the scene “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Consider your ways.’” (Haggai 1:7) The command landed in a season when God’s people were busy with their own houses while His temple lay in ruins. The same call still speaks into every day. What “consider your ways” means •Stop long enough to evaluate motives, habits, and priorities. •Measure life by God’s unchanging Word, not by culture or convenience. •Recognize that choices either honor the Lord or crowd Him out. Practical steps for self-examination •Invite the Spirit’s searchlight (Psalm 139:23-24). •Compare actions with Scripture: –Lamentations 3:40: “Let us examine and test our ways…” –2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” •Keep a short account with God—confess sins promptly (1 John 1:9). •Track daily time, spending, and speech; patterns reveal the heart (Luke 6:45). •Seek honest feedback from mature believers (Proverbs 27:6). Realigning priorities with God’s purposes •Put kingdom work first (Matthew 6:33). •Guard Lord’s-Day worship and personal devotion time. •Invest talents and resources in gospel ministry before personal luxury. •Maintain relationships that strengthen obedience, avoiding those that pull away (1 Corinthians 15:33). Guarding against spiritual drift •Set regular checkpoints—morning and evening reflections (Proverbs 4:26). •Memorize and meditate on Scripture; it recalibrates the mind (Psalm 119:11). •Practice prompt obedience; delaying often leads to forgetting (James 1:22-25). •Stay teachable under sound preaching and Christ-centered fellowship (Acts 2:42). Promises attached to obedience •God’s presence—“I am with you, declares the LORD.” (Haggai 1:13) •Provision—Philippians 4:19 applies when priorities align with His. •Fruitfulness—Galatians 6:9 assures harvest “if we do not give up.” •Confidence—Proverbs 3:5-6: “He will make your paths straight.” A daily pattern of considering our ways 1.Start the day thanking God for His mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23). 2.Read a portion of Scripture; note one truth to obey. 3.Pray through schedule, commitments, and relationships, submitting each. 4.Work diligently, conscious of serving Christ (Colossians 3:23-24). 5.End the day reviewing attitudes and actions; confess, rejoice, rest. Encouragement to walk forward Because God’s Word is trustworthy and literal, His call to “consider your ways” is both urgent and hopeful. As we keep turning our hearts toward Him, He faithfully completes the good work He began (Philippians 1:6). |
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