Many of us have memorized the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…..” and we probably know it in the language of the King James (KJV), or Revised Standard (RSV) versions of the Bible.

In the RSV, verse 3 says, “He leads me in paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake.” Which is not completely clear in our modern language, however, reading this verse in the New Living Translation (NLT) says, “He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” This helps me understand a little more clearly.

If we follow Jesus, our shepherd, he will show us the right paths. We do not need to stress and worry about what to do. We trust Him and move forward, and He will lead us.

Dear Lord, many of us have concerns about decisions and questions in life. Help us remember that if we look to you for guidance, you will put us on the right path, and bring honor to You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There are many things in the Bible that are counter intuitive.

Proverbs 20:28 is an example of wisdom that sounds quite contrary to what a simple world view might believe. “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.”

Intimidation and dominance will keep people following a leader when they are required to, but a leader who truly cares about, loves, his or her people will receive the same in return, and receive the allegiance and commitment from his or her team. There is no greater example of this than Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, There is so much wisdom available to us in the Bible; Useful for us in our walk of faith, but also in how we live our lives in work, school, and family. Help us read and meditate on your word out of our love for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

It is sometimes hard to believe how people can have such bad judgment and do some of the things they do today. This is not anything new. In fact Jesus tells us this will happen in Matthew 7:13-14, saying, “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.”

It takes a discipline, courage, and commitment to follow the path God wants for us. We cannot just go along with what is popular or trendy. We need to as written in Proverbs 4:26-27, “Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

Dear Lord, The Devil is expert at tempting us, and the desires of the world are so appealing. We know with your help we can overcome these distractions that can lead us away. Help us set our own straight path, following your teachings so that we enter the narrow gate by your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If you have traveled internationally, to places where the primary language is not your primary language, you may have experienced the feeling of being a foreigner, in a place that was not your home.

This is how Jesus describes his followers, us, when he prays in John 17:16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”

The closer we get to Jesus, the more we feel like strangers in our world, but the closer we feel to other believers and to our true homeland with Jesus.

Dear Lord, it is a joy to know we are citizens of your world. In Jesus name. Amen.

When skyscrapers are built they are built on huge foundations dug deeply into the ground where it is solid, ideally solid rock.

Jesus tells those listening to him in Matthew 7:24, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock.”

We build the foundation for our life on our beliefs, preconceptions, and world views. If this foundation is built on how we feel about things and popular social and cultural ideas, we are not building our life on solid ground. Jesus’ and his teaching that we learn through the Bible are the solid rock foundation on which we can build lives that enable us to successfully withstand the trials and temptations of the world.

Dear Lord, Thank you for taking the guesswork out of building our lives properly. You have given us the template which starts with following and trusting you. Help us keep you first in our lives build our lives around you, our rock. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.