A Prayer to Stay on the Path of Righteousness
By Laura Bailey
Bible Reading
“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-26 NIV
Listen or Read Below:
I stopped mid-stride, hitting the 15-second back button on my phone, the pastor’s words ringing in my ears. My attention was fully engaged, and I listened intently as I replayed the message, “We dabble in sin, but Satan dominates.” One of my favorite pastimes is walking the path in our pasture and listening to sermons from various preachers. This particular series focused on the choices we make each day, driving home that nothing we do is in isolation–people are always affected by our decisions. So, as I replayed the phrase a few more times, I began to wonder in what areas of my life I had dabbled in sin, but it was starting to “dominate.”
- What started as a few purchases at one of my favorite online boutiques had turned into my overspending, hiding the stream of packages from my husband.
- A conversation with a group of gal pals about a friend going through a divorce quickly esclated into a full-blown dissecting of her family and lifestyle.
- I convinced myself that I would just read a few lines of the author I’d heard was a bit racey, which led to me consuming the whole book and purchasing a few more.
There were countless times when I convinced myself that “it wasn’t a big deal,” “it’s not hurting anyone,” or “ everyone else is doing it.” And while our choices may not always directly affect other people, our rebellion, no matter how insignificant we believe it is, is still sinning against a holy God.
Proverbs 4:25-26 says, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”
We must pay extra attention to have our eyes fixed firmly on Christ so that we will continue to walk in righteousness. It is a daily commitment, a faithful act of obedience to surrender our lives, every last detail over to our Heavenly Father. The author of Proverbs knows how easy it is for humans to “get off the path” or “choose a different direction.” He warns us not to even turn our heads ( dabble) in the wrong direction, lest our feet follow ( dominate).
Engaging in sin often starts with something small and then escalates. Think about the progression of Eve’s sin in the garden. Genesis 3:6, “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.”Eve looked, touched, and ate the forbidden fruit. It was a gradual descent into turning away from God’s good plan. Less we think we have more self-control than our biblical parents; we are guilty of the same. That’s why it is imperative that we stop before we start, that we don’t dare to dabble.
Staying on the path of righteousness takes work; many distractions and hindrances exist. But, each day, we have a choice: will we choose God and His ways, which are better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), or the way of the world that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14)?
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, Matthew 7:13-14 tells us, “ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” We pray that we walk through the narrow gate, turn from the road of destruction, and find life. Each day guide us and moves our hearts to align with Your will and desires. When we choose our way, bring us back to You. Lord, we love You and are so grateful that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross of our sins so that we may have eternal life. Be with us, as we live each day for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/lili_popper
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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