For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity – every good path. For wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart. Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you, rescuing you from the way of evil – from the one who says perverse things, from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness, from those who enjoy doing evil and celebrate perversion, whose paths are crooked, and whose ways are devious. So follow the way of good people, and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous uprooted from it. Proverbs 2:6-15, 21-22
Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my adversaries; make Your way straight before me. Psalm 5:8
My words…
Praise
Lord, Your way of thinking is the most excellent way to think. Your paths of righteousness are the most delightful paths to follow. You forged these paths along a straight line, so Your children would see You on the path – leading, following, or walking alongside. Your glory lights the way. Your path does not bend or twist, obscuring what lies ahead. You protect me as I sojourn, so I have no need to fear. You are my Shield, my Rear Guard. It is only on this path that I grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. It’s Your path. It’s my path. It’s the very best place to be.
Prayer for me
We have walked the path together, You and I, for many years. Sometimes the path grows rocky, and I stumble. “Why can’t this path be perfectly smooth and easy, lined with flower petals and songbirds?” I ask. Even in spite of my griping, You make known to me Your wisdom as we walk together. I have learned so much from You. I have so much more to learn. Be patient with me, and don’t let go of my hand.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I neglect to invite others to join me on the path of righteousness. It was made for all of Your children, yet so few have found it. Forgive me for wrapping myself up in my own journey without thinking of those desperately seeking Your path.
Prayer for others
I pray for those who have abandoned the well-lit straight paths and have wandered onto crooked, darkened paths. These children of Yours were once faithful – they can quote scripture and have memorized spiritual songs. But the path grew too restrictive, too confined. Now they wander around in a maze that leads nowhere. They are deceived in thinking they are free. Some are those I love. Snatch them, Lord! Lead them back to the well-lit path.
Thank You
Thank You for the “good people” who walk the path with me. Each has a different faith-story, but we’re all on the path together. What a blessing! What a gift!
More praise
My spirit’s eyes see Your path as one through a forest, shaded with trees. The straight, leafy path leads to a perfect cottage, flowering vines framing the door. It’s my cottage. You built it for me. It stands in the distance, always in the distance. I know I will walk through the flower-draped door one day, and I will be home. Then I will have no need to look back at the path, for You and I will dwell together in the cottage You built for me. Yet the one thing that makes me so joyful, is that what You have in store for me is so infinitely better than the cottage I imagine. For now, I will keep to the path. It’s the very best place to be.
