Proverbs 4:26 “ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure”
It was the coolest part of the day when we slipped out of our hammocks. The light is barely enough to see, grudgingly giving way. Tiredness still lay on me like a morning shawl. Legs sore from days of walking. Stomach growls are heard, the absence of food for a day making its presence felt. There would be no breakfast this morning.
We had been under the canopy of the rain forest for days, heat, mosquitoes, and river baths, the orders of the day.
This morning we have a short boat trip upriver to the start of a path across from Honduras to Nicaragua, through the heart of the Mosquito Coast jungle.
The cheeriness was hushed this morning as we packed and dressed in a tight space, each of us was preparing mentally as well as practising for the day ahead. There was an inner silence about us.
Single file we made our way to the river edge and a dugout canoe, only the briefest of words spoken. Then we were on the river, heading upstream.
The light was just enough to see, and within thirty minutes we spotted our beachhead and were making our landing.
Immediately we were swallowed by the canopy, the crazy night noise level was receding like the tide and as we stepped onto the start of what would be a nine-hour journey we felt ready I think, if not maybe prepared.
The next hours were remarkable. Stooped over under a low cut jungle canopy, feet sticky and heavy with clay that crept up your trousers, sliding on hidden roots and avoiding the odd lonely snake. On and on we went lost in thought, absorbed into the mud and drawn to the mystery and mess of our surroundings. We filled our bottles with warm water, added the Clorox, waited and drank as if there would never be enough. Repeat.
I think I pulled my belt in two notches that day.
The idea of putting one foot in front of the other, of keeping going when every part of you wanted to stop was ingrained into me in those hours. I learned I could get through the toughest seasons by just keeping going. I did not learn this in a book.
When we without fanfare reached the next river and were across the border, all I could do for ten minutes was sit in the mud, feet in the water and say “thank you” over and over. The adventure was about to begin.
KNOWLEDGE
Our conversation and our observation were guided in the previous two scriptures, and now we move on to our direction. Where are our speech and our inclinations taking us – what direction do our literal and figurative feet travel in and how are we considering and directing these.
Pondering is the key to great decisions. Something can seem right and good, and popular, and can attract us into an impulsive reaction or decision. We leap in, full of great hope and great intentions. Then we discover we have crossed over the pleasant boundaries and find ourselves in a place we never planned to be in – because we never stopped to ponder and plan.
Wisdom is there for all you are hungry for it. Our position is to be patient, to be peaceful, and to ponder………
I love a good ponder, it’s saved me from so many flawed decisions, it is one of the great joys of the Christian life, to invite the Holy Spirit into the big decisions and the small decisions of our life and to ponder, and then to take direction and set off. There is huge excitement in life is having pondered to then set sail with the wind of the Spirit in our sails.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word for “ponder” in the Old Testament Hebrew is pronounced “palas” and appears 4 times in the Old Testament. It is translated in the ESV to the English words, deal out; made [a path]; ponder; and, make level. Here in verse 26, we pick up on the idea of taking time to prepare and make the way ahead for yourself as smooth as you can.
WISDOM: what are you and the Holy Spirit pondering right now?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Achiever and Restorative as a Theme Dynamic. The preparations are done well and the broken places are healed. We are ready!
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [balance and weigh out the source and hope of your life and journey, then the course of your life, your customs, conversation, and conduct, will be prepared and established.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me today to place my full life willingly into your hands, your keeping, and your guidance.
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Hi ps Allan ; thx u for God words; first of all is incredible how u went trough again the jungle is unbelievable.
I would like it continue put In my heart listen; learning guidance from my God .
Thx u
God bless
Wow Allan, what a story. Such incredible strength you were able to draw from God in those difficult times and such satisfaction in all you accomplished.
I love the assurance of this scripture. Gods promise that when our thoughts are centred on Christ, then our paths will be sure.
For me the word ponder implies that we take time, that we don’t rush, that we meditate on the things of God as we make decisions. So often in today’s world we feel forced to rush and make quick decisions that often lead us astray. This scripture reminds us of the importance to stop and reflect, to stop and once again seek God’ wisdom.
I love your version of the scripture… ‘the course of our life….will be prepared and established’…. such a great thought to start my day 🙂 Thank you Allan.
So beautiful ps. Allan, thank you. Two of the most essentials lesson learnt in life that you have shared here and it is not in a book:
1. In the toughest seasons, we just keep going and going.
2. Thank you and thank you…..what a humble and grateful heart is….
I had the toughest and the lowest level in my life in late 2018 to mid 2019….those exactly, two essentials attitude and life key that make me be able to go through it and reach victory in and with Jesus.
Thank you Jesus, in my deepest sorrow and confusion, You have touched me through one worship song and remind me of His never ending and abundant love and mercy. This is part of the verses: whenever I am searching peace, only I found in You…..Jesus, You are the only answer in my life…You are everything…..amen
How well I remember that trek through the Wankibila. How God provided the man in the canoeto take us the rest of the way to our destination.
Thank you for a great encouragement to keep moving forward i love when you say
“its one of the great joys of the Christian life, to invite the Holy Spirit into the big decisions and the small decisions of our life and to ponder, and then to take direction and set off. There is a huge excitement in life is having pondered to then set sail with the wind of the Spirit in our sails.
Amen Amen Amen
Thank you Pastor Allan for sharing another experience & the lessons you have learnt from that!
There are times in my life where I could only take one small step but that in itself was a major achievement! As you say the key is learning in the toughest of seasons to just keep going trusting God will lead & guide you through. I love the scripture ‘Be still & know that I am God’ for here is a place where we can rest & find peace & direction for the next part of the journey. What a wonderful directive the word ponder is for in it we find the wisdom from God to wait on Him & seek His timing & leading. Impulsive decisions & choices made in haste generally can bring regret while well thought out plans sitting with the Holy Spirit bring good outcomes peace of mind & a quiet confidence in knowing you have done all & my path will be steady & established as I keep my focus on Him.
I automatically think of Proverbs 16:9
“The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps”
We may ponder and plan were we want to go in life but if we are seeking and trusting the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and lead us ultimately He will direct our path. I think this is a beautiful thought to know that He is always walking along beside us navigating us through life.
Pondering is the key to great decisions, that will save one from many flawed decisions
Ponder the path of your feet, And let your ways be established .
In hindsight a lot of my life was very impulsive and I often suffer the consequences in a big way. I’m grateful that my experiences and God’s grace has saved me to the extent that I ponder alot nowadays. Especially pondering and allowing the Holy Spirit to saturate my thinking before I leap has improved my life immensely. Thanks for today’s message Pastor Allan.
I’m still pondering….. what a journey with God. What a man of faith. What labour of love. Well done legend.
In this message we learn to trust in God completely , to listen to His voice before we we plan the steps of our future. We have the assurance that He is always there to guide us forward. We can move forward with His blessing. It is comforting to know that we are not alone on this journey.
Really great thoughts on this proverb thanks Allan. I especially am pondering the verse and how I could have made changes for better outcomes had I pondered where my feet would go for all my ways to be sure. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I think more importantly pondering what we are facing to save us from flawed decisions is truly wisdom I am yet to master . Thank you Jesus for your grace for me
Wow! Absorbing all the adventure you have gone through… The risks of dangers ignored. Pressing forward fearlessly…this has to be for survivor of the fittest!
Thank you for the description of that journey!
Ponder the path of your steps…
How good it is when we are in Christ and His Word in us , as the Holy Spirit orders our steps!
“For the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord .” Hallelujah!
Praise God for the courage, strength, wisdom, God’s presence and guidance continually brings us to victory and how precious is that you shared in the practical way and this is not just a theory!
You truly acted out !
I bet that you have pondered much in that journey!
Thank you Allan.
May I request that I may receive Proverbs 5 in November.
Much appreciated!
Love This- Wisdom is there for all you are hungry for it. Our position is to be patient, to be peaceful, and to ponder.
Your version was spot on. Thanks Ps Allan.
Wow – what a journey. Well done for sticking at it and not giving up.
Love your pondering thought.
Its one of the great joys of the Christian life, to invite the Holy Spirit into the big decisions and the small decisions of our life and to ponder, and then to take direction and set off.
Pastor Alan, this challenges u had are sooo inspiring, it reminds me of my basic training in the army (wivout the snakes😂👎🏾), it’s nice to see that determination in u, knowing that u was on a mission and u was not going to fail, what more can I say that I hav not said over your incredible journey pastor, walking through water stuck in mud (clay) and the adventure was just about to begin 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽😂😉👍🏾
“Pondering the key to great desitions”
I believe the above statement to be true to me”
I find that it has saved me so many times from making poor disitions for my future in many occasions.
When we act on the moment on our feelings ,
Alone ,it always takes us to a place of disitions we would regret later.
I have learnt that by waiting on the Lord
even though in my human eye I do not see what I want to see.God will speak to you when your willing to listen and everything makes sense.
When you ponder and wait on the Holy spirit.your thinking changes,and you will make wise disitions for ones life.
I reminder the two year ponder before leaving a long term place of work. A place that had been everything to me. The thing I learnt about the ponder is it does not save you from the pain of grief. With HIS SPIRIT and wisdom shared, the decision made, the direction taken, HE will then walk out the grief with you.
If you will stay close, pour your heart out to HIM, HE will be there every step of the way. The fruit is a greater love shared and a stronger faith to continue.