The Right Way is God's Way - #264

Any way that is ultimately my way is always the wrong way 

Transcript

Every single day, you and I are engaged in a battle. This isn’t occasional—it’s daily. We have a spiritual enemy who is constantly whispering his deceitful lies into our mind, trying to pull us off the path God has for us. That’s why we must choose daily to go to God and say the words of Psalm 143:8, “Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul”. We need that kind of dependence on God every day.

Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. A powerful weekly study filled to the brim with the all the tools from Scripture you will ever need to build a lasting life of Biblical purity and godliness. I’m your host Steve Etner – author, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry and this is Episode #264 entitled “The Right Way is God’s Way.” 

There was a song years ago that said, “And now, the end is near; and so I face the final curtain. My friend, I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full. I’ve traveled each and every highway; and more, much more than this, I did it my way.” And honestly, that mindset sounds appealing, doesn’t it? Doing life your way. Calling your own shots. What’s wrong with that?

But Scripture gives us a reality check. Galatians 6:3 says, “If anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”And Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

So, the question becomes—do I want to be wise… or do I want to just do life my way? I don’t know about you, but I want to be counted among the wise. Because here’s the reality—we’re in a battle every day, and the enemy is constantly trying to convince you to do life your way instead of God’s way.

And if we’re honest, sometimes that thought creeps in, even if we don’t say it out loud. “Why do I have to give everything to God?” “What’s wrong with just a little self-indulgence?” “As long as I’m not doing something really bad… what’s the big deal?”

But God doesn’t leave us guessing. Proverbs 15:10 says, “There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.”And again, Proverbs 14:12 reminds us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Let me put it this way—any way that is ultimately my way is always the wrong way. Let me repeat that … any way that is ultimately my way is always the wrong way.

That’s why Psalm 119:9 asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” And then answers it: “By guarding it according to your word.”That’s the key – God’s word. And that’s why everything we do here on this podcast keeps coming back to Scripture. Not steps. Not formulas. Not shortcuts. Just God’s Word.

Now don’t get me wrong—there are some great resources out there. A good accountability partner and Bible study groups can be incredibly helpful. Counseling can be a huge blessing. But if those things aren’t built on Scripture, they’re eventually going to shift the focus onto you—your effort, your strength—instead of God’s power working in you. 

God says in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”And Proverbs 3:6 tells us, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”That’s the promise.

So, remember this—the real issue isn’t the temptation itself. It’s how your heart responds to it. It’s a worship issue. And God, through His Word and by His Spirit, shows you what’s right and gives you the strength to walk in it.

That’s why staying in the Word daily matters so much; reading it, thinking about it, applying it to your life. Because Deuteronomy 11:28 gives a clear warning: “You will be cursed if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today…” None of us wants that.

So, what do we do? We make a daily choice to dethrone “King Me.” We choose not to chase what our flesh wants, but to follow what God says. And I know—this isn’t always easy. There are moments when the temptation feels overwhelming. Moments where it honestly feels like you’re going to explode if you don’t give in.

I get that. I’ve been there. For years, I told myself, “Just one more time… and then I’ll stop.”
 One more indulgence. One more compromise. One more moment. But that’s a lie. That’s “King Me” shouting at you: “Just give in.” “This will make you feel better.” “You deserve this.” 

Don’t listen to it. Don’t cave. Instead, cry out to God—“Show me your way.” And when He does—and He will—you must choose to walk in it. No matter what it costs. Because His way is always the right way that leads to life.

Joshua 22:5 gives us a pretty clear picture of what this looks like. It says, “Be very careful… to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”That’s not casual. That’s intentional. That’s all-in.

And then you hear the heart of God in Isaiah 48:17–18. He says, “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

Can you hear that? That’s not an angry God… that’s a loving Father saying, “I’m trying to lead you into what’s best. I’m trying to give you peace.” The problem isn’t that God’s holding out on us—it’s that we don’t always listen.

And Jesus makes it really simple in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”And 1 John 5:3 adds, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”In other words, this isn’t about rules—it’s about relationship.

So where do we find those commands? Where do we learn God’s way? Simple—God’s Word. And God promises that when you walk in His way, your life will be marked by peace—“like a river”—and righteousness—“like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18).

In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”And Jeremiah 31:17 reminds us, “There is hope for your future, declares the LORD.”That’s what God wants for you.

You can live a godly life. You can walk in purity. But it starts with a daily choice.

Psalm 25 lays it out so clearly: “To you, O LORD, I (choose to) lift up my soul” (Psalm 25:1). “In you I (choose to) trust” (Psalm 25:2). “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3). “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth” (Psalm 25:4–5).

That’s the posture. But let me say this—when you ask God to show you His way, you’ve got to be willing to walk it. Don’t ask Him for direction if you’re not ready to follow through. Because built into that prayer—“show me your ways”—is a willingness to actually go where He leads.

Jeremiah 6:16 says, “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”And Deuteronomy 5:33 says, “Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may go well with you.”

And I love how Psalm 1:1–2 puts it: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked… but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

That’s the difference-maker—what you’re feeding your mind.

Alright, we’re going to hit pause right there for today, and we’ll get together again next episode as we keep walking through Biblical truth together.

In the meantime, if you want to go deeper into this, or learn more about the ministry, head over to ThePurityCoach.com. There are a lot of resources there that are designed to help you grow.

One of those resources I am making available to you is a book I wrote called Are You a Super Man? How to Become God’s Man of Steel.

If you’re looking for a solid 12-week Bible study—something you can do on your own, with an accountability partner, or with a small group—this is a great place to start. It’s a practical, real look at what it means to be a godly man in a world that’s constantly pushing the opposite direction. Because let’s be honest—we can look strong on the outside but still feel like we’re struggling on the inside.

Here’s the key idea: just as superman’s super strength came from his close proximity to Earth’s son – so your strength to stand firm in the faith comes from your relationship with God’s SON. The closer you are to Jesus, the stronger you become in resisting the enemy. Just like James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

But we’ve all got weaknesses too—what I call your “kryptonite.” Those areas from your past, those habits, those temptations the enemy keeps using against you. And the truth is, when you play around with those things, it weakens you.

This study helps you identify that, deal with it, and grow stronger as you walk closer with Christ.

So, if you’re ready to take that next step, I’d encourage you to check it out on Amazon—Are You a Super Man? How to Become God’s Man of Steel.

In closing, let me ask you this final question. Are you going to keep doing things your way… or are you going to walk in God’s?

And if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes! So, until next time this is Steve Etner – author, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry – reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.