April 18 – Don’t Weave on The Path

“Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,  and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” -  Hebrews 12:12 (NASB)

The unusual visual of the language in our verse is drawn from a prophecy given in Isaiah 35. This is a picture of what will happen for the believers when the Lord comes again. The next sentence encourages those who are discouraged to ‘Be strong and don’t be afraid. This is a common experience – weak hands and feeble knees – especially as we get older. But even the young have weak faith and drooping arms with week knees. How are we to strengthen our hands and knees? Listen to the author’s encouragement as a coach. There is more of the race left to run, it is not the time to allow weakness and feebleness so, don’t quit yet. Take care to watch where we are walking and follow the path that is level. God will make our path straight (Proverbs 3:6). Throughout our lives we have choices of which paths we will walk. If we make sure to take the level path or to make our way level and straight, then all our ways will be sure (Proverbs 4:26-27). As we walk we are told to not swerve back and forth. No flip-flopping. And, very important, let’s turn away from evil. 

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November 1 – No Swerving Necessary

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”  Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

These words challenge us to persist in our confidence in our God.  Notice the word “unswervingly.” Imagine we are in a vehicle and as we travel down the road we begin to notice things off the road that capture our attention maybe even cause us to worry or fear.  We begin to swerve to the right and then to the left because we have taken our eyes off our path.  In front our road is clearly marked but our attention is on things off to the sides of the road.  “Unswervingly” means without wavering, that there is not the slightest sign of wavering when we think of what God has promised.  We do not entertain the slightest hesitation about believing what God has said.  The basis for this kind of faith and hope is in the unquestioned faithfulness of God.  We can be unswerving because God is unswerving. He will keep His promises so let us hold on to that fact, and  keep our eyes on the path God has made straight for us.  If we know He is faithful we can be tenacious, holding firmly to His promises.

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October 14 – Not To the Right or the Left

“Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.  Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.”  -Proverbs 4:25-27   (NASB)

Don't we who follow Jesus Christ because He is our Lord and Savior want our ways established in His Word and Truth?  Do we not want to avoid falling for the attractions of evil things?  Today's promises tell us just how we should go about accomplishing that objective.  Actually it is accomplished by he grace of God who does it for us if we keep our eyes fixed on Him and His Word.  We keep His Word in our heart/mind and we fix our gaze straight ahead in front of us.  If we do this and keep our eyes on the path where our feet are walking, God establishes us and our habits and behaviors.  We refuse to turn to the right or to the left for that is where the distractions and attractions for an ungodly life are.  When we intentionally resist temptation and turn away from evil, God's ways become our ways and we bless God as He more abundantly blesses us.  

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June 24 – A Straight Path Journey

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6  (NASB)

We have a most encouraging promise from the Bible to focus on today.  When we are troubled with circumstances that are difficult, or when we are needing to work some major or minor situations out and we do not know for sure how to do that?  It is best for us to start with the promise we have today. The promise in today's verse is that God can and will make our paths straight and clear.  We begin by trusting in Him with all our heart.  We forsake our our trust in own understanding.  Our understanding is not perfect and our knowledge is faulty so we look to God's understanding and knowledge which are perfect.  We choose to Trust in Him with all our heart – we can't say that enough, with - ALL OUR HEART.  We give up trying to figure it out.  Instead we lean completely on God by confessing Him and acknowledging His presence and His care for us and that He has our best in mind.  We follow where He leads us even if we do not fully understand in our reasoning, but by trusting and knowing He is our Lord we will find the right path.  The path He leads us on is straight, so trust that promise today for whatever you might encounter.

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