The American singer Frank Sinatra is known for popularising the song “My Way”. His iconic voice combined with the grand instrumentation made it one of his most popular numbers, his signature song. But Sinatra himself is said to have ended up loathing “My Way” because it glorifies self-centredness. The song basically argues that it doesn’t matter how we live, as long as we do things our way. As long as we’ve been the ones in control, we’ve chased our dreams, then apparently we’ve done well.

The key idea in this song is just about the complete antithesis of what the Bible teaches. God’s Word reminds us of the reality of our spiritual condition and its consequences. Our sinfulness and the deceitfulness of our own hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) means that our ability to make the right decisions is severely impaired. Doing things “my way” is not all it’s cracked up to be!

So what is the answer? Trusting in and obeying the One whose ways are perfect, who never fails to get it right. Being in right relationship with God the Father through trusting in His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and walking in His ways by the help of the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 3:5,6 puts it like this: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Notice that these verses do not say we should trust in God some of the time, or only in some ways. We are to trust Him with all our heart, and submit to Him in all our ways. To do this results in blessedness and fruitfulness (e.g. Psalms 1:1-3 & 119:1,2), and is like building our lives on a rock solid foundation that will never be shaken, no matter what ‘storms’ come our way (Matthew 7:24,25).

So let’s have less of “my way”, and more of “His way” – God’s way, that is.