During the first week of December, I woke with the following scripture verse in my mind. I knew instinctively that this verse is the theme for the year 2016. The Lord wants us to examine our ways and ensure that they are pleasing to Him.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

We tend to develop set habits of doing things in our everyday life. Sometimes our attitudes are so meticulous that they become fix traditions that are hard to change. These habitual things can be as simple as preparing the same particular meal on Saturdays and Sundays.

For example, I grew up in a household where Saturday dinner always consisted of beef or chicken soup while Sunday dinner is a regular rice and peas with fried chicken. When I started my family, I found myself following these traditions.

The functions in the church have also become routine. For example prayer meetings and Bible study are always scheduled on a particular day inside the church. On the other hand, the order of Sunday morning service never changed.

I believe that prayer meetings and Bible study are crucial, but they should be conducted in the homes of the members of the church. The homes are carriers of Satan’s evil spirits, and only prayer and the word of God can destroy them.

If each of us carefully examine our lives, we will find that we have certain habits that are unique to us. If you look at the world at large, there are many religions in the world.

According to Wikipedia.org approximately 84% of the global population is affiliated with one of the five largest religious group, which are Christianity, Hinduism, Muslims, Buddhism or folk religions such as voodoo, obeah.

A map of major denominations and religions of the world. Image courtesy of wikipedia.org

These religious groups are divided further into different belief systems. For example, Christianity consists of many denominations such as Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist. There seems to be a new denomination forming regularly, as more and more people become dissatisfied with their church structures and believe that God is calling them to a different faith.

Due to the diversity of these religions, the younger generation is becoming skeptical and indifferent. Hence, they are leaning towards so-called non-religious groups such as atheist who do not believe in the existence of God, the Humanist who thinks that you can live a good life without religion or superstitious beliefs, and the agnostics who do not admit to anything specific but prefer to keep an open mind.

Whether or not a person believes in God, he falls into a category. Everyone is adamant about their belief and claim to have evidence to support their views. With all these diversities in religion and faith, you may wonder what the is the truth.

The Bible states that all of the ways of humans appeared right in our eyes. Our ways may be our unique habits that characterized our way of life or our religious affiliations. Whatever they are they seemed right to us. But are they right in the eyes of God? The Bible further states that the ways that seemed right to man will end in death.

Therefore, all our traditions, customs, religions, beliefs, and habits do not produce life but will end in death.

What is the true way?

The true way is the path that leads to God. But how does a person who do not believe in God fits into this category? The Atheist thinks that his way is right, but although he does not believe in God, the Lord is still watching over him.

The bible states that:

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).

Irrespective of the way you choose to follow, God is directing your steps, and He will eventually lead you back to Him.

Therefore, the Lord has no regard for the ways of men that appeared pure or right in their eyes because He looks at the spiritual hearts of men and He weighs them.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (Proverbs 16:2).

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts (Proverbs 21:2).

The Lord examines our hearts to see righteousness and justice

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:3)

He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)

It is possible for humans to practice good works on earth whether or not they believe in God, but it is impossible for us to be righteous without the true and living God. The Bible states that we are like unclean things and the righteousness of men are like filthy rags in God’s sight. (Isaiah 64:6)

It does not matter which religion or faith that we practice we are all sinners in the eyes of God, and there is only one way that can make us clean.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Only through the blood of Jesus Christ, that cleanses our sins we can enter into the presence of God. Therefore, when the Lord assess your heart, He is looking for Christ, who represents us as our Redeemer. When God sees Christ in us, He sees righteousness, and it pleases the Lord.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7)

When the Lord is pleased with us He will protect us from the enemies, and they will be at peace with us.

The Lord will reveal Himself to each unbeliever on a personal level because every person on earth must bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord whether in this present life, on their death bed or the life after death when Christ returns. (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:9-11)

God is not impressed with religion or doctrines He wants a personal relationship with each of us and, believe me, He will eventually have it whether or not you wish to believe it now. Therefore:

“Look to Me, and be saved, all you end of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” Said the Lord (Isaiah 45:22)

The Lord spoke the above words, and they cannot return to Him void without accomplishing what they are supposed to do. (Isaiah 55: 11)

The Lord has proclaimed the year 2016 as the days of John the Baptiste crying in the wilderness saying prepare the way of the Lord, make His path straight. Therefore, repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For the entire year, this blog will be dedicated to preparing the way of the Lord.

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven, is at hand!”  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight. (Matthew 3:1-3)

Published by Beverley

Beverley has been serving the Lord since she was a child. At an early age, she recognized that God had a special plan for her life, but it was not until in her adulthood that she surrendered her total life to God and accepted the mandate that God placed on her life. The Lord called her into His Kingdom to be an encourager, intercessor, teacher, scribe, priest, and to proclaim the Word of God. Since then, Beverly has established a blog to teach us to become the oil and wine. The oil and wine are purified and mature products, which is the advanced level that the Lord expected of us. In 2017, Beverley published her first book, Harm Not The Oil And Wine. In it, she described her trials and how God helped her to overcome them, and to live more victoriously. The book also exposed the enemy of our souls with detailed information about his past defeats and future extinction. Wright spents most of her time studying the Bible to know the truth of God’s Word. She believes that only God’s truth can expose the deception of the enemy, and uproot and tear down spiritual strongholds. You can learn more about Beverley’s life and testimony on her website becomingtheoilandwine.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Google+ under the name of her blog, and on Twitter as @Theoilandwine. View all posts by Beverley