Road Signs: Caution

Review The Path Principle: Our _________, not our intention, determines our __________

Review The Path Principle: Our direction, not our intention, determines our destination

Unfortunately we live in a world that says your path doesn’t matter as long as your intentions are good. “As long as it feels right” “Follow you heart” Review

Unfortunately we live in a world that says your path doesn’t matter as long as your intentions are good. “As long as it feels right” “Follow you heart” Review

The next logical question If our path determines our destination, then how do we know which path to take?

Road Sign for LIFE When you see a warning sign, DO NOT ignore it – Do something

Proverbs 27:12 (NIV) The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Two People Two Responses Two Outcomes

Two People Prudent: the wise person – Life IS connected (cause and effect) Simple: the naïve – Life is just not that hard (deceive themselves)

Thoughts – where I let my mind go Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Attention - Thought – Feeling – Step – Direction Thought = Path

Thoughts – where I let my mind go If physically “you are what you eat”, then spiritually and in “real” life, you become what you think – i.e. what I think is who I am -Where do thoughts come from? -Where do thoughts go? -What to do with thoughts?

Thoughts – where I let my mind go We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

One Situation – Two Responses Danger Situation: Danger Prudent’s Response: Take appropriate action; do something; take refuge Simple’s Response: Keep going; they hear the warning, but don’t change their direction

Two Outcomes Prudent: Refuge; avoid problems and pain Simple: Suffer harm (unnecessarily)

Not changing direction as soon as you see the warning signs is a problem. We end up where the path leads. A point comes when bad options are all you have. It’s my fault I ended up here. God does not love me less, God is not mad at me, God isn’t out to get me – I violated a principle.

When we see a caution sign in our lives, we have to make a decision. You are not locked into a path, you can change direction STOP LOOK LISTEN

You end up where the path leads, the PATH determines DESTINATION Our direction, not our intention, determines our destination The farther down the path, the harder to change.

Four experiences you will have if you get serious about this principle ACTION: You have to do something. SACRIFICE: You have to give something up. EMBARRASSMENT: You are going to make some decisions that other will not understand. RELIEF: One day you will breathe a sigh of relief that you changed paths.

Don’t waste your life on the wrong path. It’s never too late to change directions. You are not a victim – you have a choice. Don’t waste another minute on a path that leads you somewhere you don’t want to go.