The Straight Path

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. - Proverbs 3:5-6

Written about in the post “Seek Direction“, was how the leaders of Israel were fooled by a plan of deception. They were caught off guard by the misleading plan of the Gibeonites but the biggest mistake was their failure to seek direction from God to follow the straight path.

The lesson for us is to always let God be a part of our decision and approval process. This includes concerns with our family, business, organization, or job. The good news is that as the title of the song Grace is Enough by Matt Maher, we have grace to always fall back on when we make mistakes. We can take in the lessons, seek God’s direction, and be guided to better decisions in the future.

Index of devotionals

Opportunities to Explain

As we step ahead on the path of our journey, there will be those who will try to put roadblocks in our way. Just like the post Stepping Ahead of Roadblocks when The Sadducees asked Jesus a question to try and show discrepancies in His teachings, there will be non-believers that we will come up against. These situations give us an opportunity to explain the soundness and victory found in the Word.

This day with You Father, help us to step ahead by taking in the Word to fortify us. Help us to remain optimistic because with You, we are highly favored. Amen!

A little bit of faith goes a long way and can change those who don’t believe. Here’s a video to inspire our day: Something in the Water – Carrie Underwood.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. - Colossians 2:8

Index of devotionals

Surround Yourself with People of Integrity

The post Association contained some written thoughts from the study of Genesis 14. A lesson learned was that the people we associate with are so very important. Lot was near the sinful city of Sodom and because of this association; he lost all his possessions and was taken captive. On the other hand, Abraham was where God wanted him to be and with the people He wanted him to be.

Being around a negative environment can cause great damage in societies. Think of societies that begin to break down. Respect for people breaks down, respect for authority breaks down, and respect for keeping the surroundings upright breaks down.

Like in Genesis 14, the area became a crime riddled wasteland and wars broke out. What once was the place to be, near prosperous activity and growth became a devalued area not because of location but because of the lack of integrity around it.

We need today more people of integrity like Abraham who promised God not to take the spoils of war. He kept his promise when he refused to take anything from the king of Sodom. Here is a video that inspires integrity: Search me Lord – Gaither Vocal Band.

Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. -  Psalm 25:4-5

Index of Devotionals

Follow the Path Laid Out by God's Word

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For a society to build up a resistance to corruption, we have to believe that small actions over time will build up to make major improvements. We have to look at corruption as the enemy and work together to identify this enemy in order to destroy its grip.

Reading in 2 Peter 2:10-22, we get a description of false teachers who had a grip on society during the time of Peter. They had behavior patterns that were slanderous, their message was empty, and they appealed to the lustful desires of sinful human nature. It is explained in the passage that their fate is not good for they will be destroyed and paid back for the harm they have produced.

Explained also in the passage is that the type of person affected by false teaching is the unstable; those who are taken in by the deceivers. Their own lust gains victory over them because accepting what the false teacher promises requires no effort. They simply continue with their negative habits and attitudes to receive what they want. On the other hand, righteousness requires effort.

The best idea to resist false teaching is to follow the path laid out in God’s Word. As presented in this reading, if we follow our own sinful desires, we become enslaved by whatever our flesh wants but if we submit our life to Christ, we become free. The Gospel message is the water of life that refreshes the soul for anyone who wants to be saved by our Lord Jesus.

This day with God, have confidence in the promise that hope will give optimism in a time of despair; faith will give courage in a time of doubt, and love will bring victory in a time of hate.

For an inspirational start to each day, join the journey at: This Day with God Devotional.

The Way of Order and Certainty

I wrote in a post at another blog that the way of the world leads to inconsistency and confusion but the way of God leads to order and certainty. Here’s a video that advances this thought: Stop the World - Matthew West.

God’s Word is essential for life. It’s like food for the soul and we should meditate on it and seek it with all our heart. He speaks through the Bible so Follow His Word and choose the path of truth in getting ready for each day. Then pay attention to the good things, be thankful, and share these blessings with others.