I love the wilderness and the wildlife that inhabit it. A couple of years ago our family took a trip to Glacier National Park. My goal was to get a picture of a grizzly bear while I was there. We saw one out in the middle of nowhere a few feet off the road. We stopped and I jumped out of the van to take some pictures. The bear took off running so I took off running after the Grizzly. I only ran about 25 yards before it hit me; “this is really stupid, I’m chasing a Grizzly?” and I promptly turned around and got back in the van before the Grizzly got mad enough to chase me. 

If you are on the wrong trail, you have to quickly get going in another direction; otherwise it’s like me chasing the Grizzly. If you know anything about Grizzly bears you would tell me how stupid that was to begin with, let alone continuing once I came to my senses.  (If you missed yesterdays blog post entitled “Your Decisions Determine Your Destination” take a moment and read it now.) Here are 4 dynamics to getting on the right trail for success and for living out your full potential.

1.     Take Action

If you were hiking in the woods and discovered that you were on the wrong trail, that you were lost, you wouldn’t get un-lost by just making a decision and saying “I decide I’m not lost”. You would need to take action, turn around, try to find the right trail. If you have found yourself on the wrong trail toward reaching your potential as the masterpiece God created you to be, make the decision to get on the right trail and take action right now to do so. “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22 NLT)

2.     It Requires Sacrifice

This is something many of us are not good at until we see danger. We typically want to go along with the crowd not even paying attention to the trail the group is taking and the destination it leads to. It will require sacrifice to get on the right trail and get different results from the crowd. The good news is when you get on the right trail you can be assured that you will get the desired results because the trail leads to a destination.  The further you continue down a wrong trail/road headed for the wrong destination the more sacrifice it will cost you. For instance had I stay on the chase after the Grizzly eventually I would have had fewer choices and paid a greater price. “And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost.”(Luke 14:27-28 NLT)

3.     You Will Be Misunderstood

Jesus was perfect and yet He was misunderstood. As you make the decision and began to take action to get on the right trail/road for the destiny that you were created for, you will be misunderstood.

4.     You Will Have A Sense Of Relief

So this is the good news, after reading that you will be misunderstood: As you see others continue down the wrong trail/road, while others think you look foolish, you will be relieved to know that you have avoided the pain, problems, and danger ahead. The Proverbs writer wrote this prayer, make it yours: “Lord, help me to see trouble coming long before it gets here and give me the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it.” (Pr 27:12 NLT) 

What action do you need to take today to get on the right trail/road? What sacrifice do you need to make? Are you willing to be misunderstood to live as the masterpiece God created you to be? Remember you will get to a place of relief once you get on the right trail/road that leads to your destiny of fulfilling all of your innate potential.

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