Following in the Footsteps

People often remark that we follow in the footsteps of our fathers, mothers, parents in general, or in other words, we follow in the path of our ancestors. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:9, "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." My father, having passed away when I was three years old, left some parenting undone you might say, but I always felt that I was "following in his footsteps." I calculated how many days he lived past his birthday of the year he died and I remember the day that I was as old as he was to the exact number of days that he had walked the earth. In my mind, I knew that the next day I would continue my journey without footsteps to follow.
Since then, I have tried to follow the Lord and have often wondered about Proverbs 16:9. How do I plan my way and allow God to direct my steps? Does he do the micro- planning and I do the macro- planning or vice versa? Do I make the big plans and he makes it possible? I really thought he planned the big picture and I made the smaller decisions and he somehow works it all out for good. Matthew Henry, a Theologean and Presbyterian Preacher, explains it this way: "If men devise their way, so as to make God's glory their end and his will their rule, they may expect that he will direct their steps by his Spirit and grace, so that they shall not miss their way nor come short of their end." That makes it a little clearer but still leaves in one ingredient to following God's will - abiding in faith.
I find that emptying myself and completely serve God's glory can be difficult and knowing his will requires much abiding and then faith that your sense of leading from him is really from him. But a wise man once reminded me that Jesus said "my sheep hear my voice." So, when he directs my steps, I will know it and peace in my spirit will help me know that I am listening to his voice. Sometimes it is hard to see the big picture when you are walking in it, but a little path of bread crumbs totals up to a fine meal at the end of the day. So, I follow in his footsteps and at the end of each day I go to sleep knowing that I have reached the heights of success.