Daily Devotions

“I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to direct our steps. So correct me, Lord—but with justice, not in Your anger, or You will reduce me to nothing.” —Jeremiah 10:23–24

These verses are a heartfelt confession—an honest acknowledgment of our human limitations. They speak a timeless truth: we are not capable of fully guiding our own lives. We can plan, pursue, and strive, but lasting direction, meaning, and correction must come from God, not from our own flawed understanding.

Jeremiah gives voice to every humble heart when he asks for God’s correction—not in wrath, but in mercy and justice. His words are a prayer of dependence, born from the awareness that self-rule leads to ruin, and that loving discipline from God is far better than the consequences of a life left unchecked.

In today’s world, this truth feels even more pressing. Writer Daniel Akst, in his secular article Who’s in Charge Here?, describes modern life vividly:

“Life in modern Western cultures is like living at a giant all-you-can-eat buffet offering more calories, credit, sex, intoxicants, and just about anything else one could take to excess than our forebears might ever have imagined. With more possibilities for pleasure and fewer rules and constraints than ever before, the happy few will be those able to exercise self-control.”

Akst’s observation underscores the danger of a self-led life in a world brimming with unchecked indulgence. Without God’s guidance and the Spirit’s empowering presence, we are not just at risk of wandering—we are almost certain to.

Centuries earlier, Martin Luther offered a compelling picture of surrender to Christ. When asked how he resisted the Devil, he answered:

“When he comes knocking on the door of my heart and asks, ‘Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out. Now I live here.’ The devil, seeing the nail-prints in His hands and the pierced side, takes flight immediately.”

This is the reality Jeremiah pointed to: not simply a life guided by God, but a life indwelled by Him. The safest and most secure path is not the one we choose for ourselves, but the one where Christ reigns within us.

A Prayer of Surrender and Dependence

Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for the times I’ve tried to take control instead of trusting Your direction.
I confess that self-reliance can be pride in disguise.
Teach me to depend on You—not out of fear or weakness, but from faith and trust.
Guide my every step. Correct me with mercy and justice, not with anger.
Make Your home in my heart, Lord Jesus. Be the one who leads and dwells within me.
In Your holy name,
Amen.