The Principle Of The Path: How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
I don't usually feel motivated to read these types of books, but the simple truth in this one really attracted me. (Thanks to Dan Nathan for suggesting it). The principle is so simple, it's almost as plain as the nose on your face, but then reading it in black and white is helpful for thinking about how you are doing in reaching your goals for life and how you can be intentional now to be the person you want to be. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE PATH by Andy Stanley1. My Swamp Ridea. Embracing the principle of the path will empower you to identify the paths that lead to the destinations you desire, while avoiding regreti. You can leverage the principle of the path for your benefit or ignore it and repeat a harvest of regretii. The principle impacts your life every dayiii. The principle follows you. It is not a law. You can break a law. But the principle of the path has the power to break you.iv. Ps 16:1v. Ps 119:1052. Why Bad Things Happen to Smart Peoplea. Direction – not intention – determines your destinationi. Recognizing the distinction between a solution and a path is the first step in understanding the principle of the pathii. People don’t need to be ‘fixed’ so much as they need different directionsiii. You and I will win or lose in life because of the paths we choose.iv. Mt 7:13v. 1 Kings 11:1-11“When someone is where he doesn’t want to be, he already knows the solution; what he needs is direction. There is no fix for being lost….it requires two things: time and a change of direction. There isn’t a quick fix.” P11“You and I will win or lose in life by the paths we chose.” P153. The Great Disconnecta. If you move in a certain direction, you have to choose the right pathi. We often choose paths that do not lead in a direction we want to goii. We are quick to ask forgiveness, slow to repent and walk away from our siniii. Choosing the wrong path can cost many precious yearsiv. Prov 7:6-27v. Jer 6:16“It breaks my heart how many people … who don’t connect the dots between the choices they make and the outcomes they experience.” P224. Should’ve Seen That Cominga. The prudent react to what they see on the horizoni. Instead of thinking about the destination/results of the path we are on, we tend to charge down the path of least resistanceii. The prudent act as if then is now; as if the future is the present. The simple react as if tomorrow will always be tomorrow.iii. For some behaviors there is a point of no return, when it becomes impossible to sidestep consequences.iv. Being forgiven does not override experiencing consequencesv. Being wise may appear foolish; looking silly now may help to avoid bad later.vi. Prov 27:12vii. Ps 73:1-20The best question ever: “In light of my past experience, and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?” p39-40I don’t want to be “oblivious to the obvious”. P42“Lord, help us to see trouble coming long before it gets here, and give us wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it.” P555. The Heart of the Mattera. To find the path you need, you may need to break the cycle of self-deceptioni. Maybe we are not on a truth-quest; ii. The promise of happiness points in one direction, while wisdom, truth, integrity, and common sense point in another: = smart people doing stupid thingsiii. We can deceive ourselves, excuse bad choices, believe them over timeiv. If you are willing to come clean about the truth of bad choices, you are on the verge of freedom.v. Jer 17:9-10vi. Jn 8:32“…when we stand at the crossroads between prudent and happy, we lie to ourselves. We turn into dishonest salespeople. We begin selling ourselves on what we want to do rather than what we ought to do. We listen to ourselves until we believe our own lies, and then we opt for happiness… we listen to our hearts, and then we assign our heads the responsibility of building a case…” P616. My Italian Joba. Choosing the right path begins with submitting to the One who knows what is best for you better than you know what is besti. Failure to trust/submit to your heavenly Father can lead to unintended/undesirable destinationsii. Choosing the right path begins with submission, not informationiii. Submission – not talent, information, or insight – is the key to good decisionsiv. 1 Kings 3:7-13v. Prov 3:5-67. The Story You Will Tella. One never accomplishes the will of God by breaking the law of God, violating the principles of God, or ignoring the wisdom of Godi. Your decision-making environments are not emotionally neutral ii. Emotionally charged decision-making environments make it almost impossible to gain the needed perspective to choose the paths where you want to goiii. The laws, principles, and wisdom of God provided David with the clarity he needed to do the right thing in the right way at the right time, despite incredible pressure to do otherwise.iv. 1 Sam 24:4-7v. 1 Sam 3:3-238. A Little Help From Our Friendsa. You will never reach your full potential without tapping into the wisdom of othersi. The herd assumption is when you assume that since everyone you know is doing something the same way, it must be all right.ii. It is always wise to learn what we can from those who reflect our own goals and aspirationsiii. Successful people know what they don’t and they are quick to go to people who do know.iv. Pray for wisdom, and then check outside assistance.v. No one gets to the place where they no longer need wise counselvi. Prov 1:5, 11:14, 12:15, 13:10; 15:22; 19:20“It takes a lot of security to say, “Even though I am in charge, I have no idea what to do on this issue.” P122“The wise are always listening. That’s how they became wise. That’s how they remain wise. P1249. Attention Retentiona. What gets our attention determines our direction and, ultimately, our destinationi. The things that grab your attention are often things that you should avoidii. Whereas emotion fuels the things that grab your attention, intentionality fuels your decision to give certain things your attentioniii. A sense of loss keeps you from paying attention to the things that deserve your attention and would serve you best in the futureiv. Over and over, God reminds you that the things to which you harness your attention direct your lifev. Prov 4:25-27vi. Matt 14:24-31“We don’t drift in good directions. We discipline and prioritize ourselves there. P 15010. Road Closeda. When it dawns on you that your dreams can’t come true, the best response is to lean hard on the One who allowed your disappointment to occuri. At some point, we all wake to the realization that IT, is not going to happenii. God can be trusted but not manipulatediii. The only option, other than submitting to God is run from the only One who can bring comfort when you need comfort the mostiv. You can respond other ways but in the end of striving and manipulating, nothing will have changed.v. 2 Sam 7:1-7, Luke 22:42
What do You think about The Principle Of The Path: How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be (2009)?
A really good book for someone needing some direction. Great for high school graduates.
—Beckie
FANTASTIC book about following a path and making wise and prudent decisions.
—Uliana
