Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

Proverbs 4:10-27 (NRSV)

Hear, my child, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
and if you run, you will not stumble.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what they stumble over.
My child, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Keep straight the path of your feet,
and all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

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Reflect

Choices such as what school we attend and what career we will choose are all ones that will drastically change what our life looks like. In the passage today, a father wrestles with the most important choice a child can make: staying on the path of uprightness and avoiding the paths of the wicked. The father encourages his children to heed his words and to remember those things they have been taught.

In today’s tumultuous times of information and worldview overload, navigating the many potential paths before us can be very confusing. It can be difficult, sometimes, to discern the path of the upright from the path of evil. Fortunately, we also have help to discern whether the paths before us are good or evil. This help comes from God in the form of Jesus Christ, the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit.

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Pray

Awesome God, we ask your help in following closely the paths of righteousness. May we examine all that we do or think about doing in the light of your Word, Jesus Christ. May we discern scripture with clarity and integrity. May your Holy Spirit be our constant guide. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Go with God.