I think we all know people or maybe we have been one of the people, who have made bad judgments and started down a path that could have ruined our lives, but turned around and got back on course. We may also know people who started down the wrong path and followed it to their demise, or are on their way.

What is the difference?

I believe the difference comes down to one decision followed by one more decision and one more, and so on… At any point, we can choose to turn away from our sinful way and begin back on the right course, or choose the next step toward destruction.

The Bible is filled with stories of people who saw that they were going the wrong way and turned back on course. Usually someone had to bring it to their attention. In 2 Samuel 12 After David had Bathsheba’s husband killed so he could marry her, Nathan brought this sin to David’s attention. Verse 13 says, “Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you,..”

As King, David could have, just as easily, eliminated Nathan, and continued down the wrong path, but he chose to turn back, and God forgave him and made him a Great King.

We all must know and believe that we can be reconciled with God, no matter how far down the wrong path we have gone. It only takes one right decision.

John tells us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Dear Lord, It is an amazing blessing for us to know that you will forgive us if we confess and turn back to you. Though for some it may seem impossible, it is not. You are just a prayer away from helping us make that first decision. Give us all the strength to turn to you and stay on your path. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There is a funny, but insightful perspective about success that goes, “you don’t wait for all the traffic lights to be green before leaving your driveway.” The point is that there will always be unknowns in our path that we cannot anticipate, but we need to begin anyway.

This concept may have originated with Solomon’s teaching in Ecclesiastes. He writes in Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 “Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.”

We need to have our plan, then get moving, and adapt, with God’s help, as we proceed.

Dear Lord, as Solomon says, you do all things, and we cannot understand the intricacies. We do know that you love us and with us through it all. Help us act with confidence in your care and live our lives as good examples for you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

We have a 3 year old Golden Retriever as our pet, and over the years we have worked on training him to listen to our commands and walk properly along side us. One of the books I read on training described that the key to having the dog listen and do what you expect is to keep their attention on you, their master. When their attention is drawn away from you, they will start off on their own agenda, chasing a squirrel, or following a scent.

I am not equating people to pets, but in a similar way, what we put our attention on affects what we do in life. In 1 Chronicles 16 David is telling the people of Israel how to behave, praise, and follow God, and he writes in verse 11, “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”

We need to be regularly turning our attention to God, his word, the bible, prayer, and worship, so that our attention is not drawn away toward things that take us away from God’s will.

Dear Lord, your lessons and instruction are available through your word in the Bible for all of to lead the life you desire. We need only keep our attention on you and your teaching, and you will guide us. Help us do just that. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When my children were young and I was teaching them something they were anxious about, like diving in the pool, or learning to ride a bike, they would be reluctant, and I would say “trust me” and reassure them that I would prevent them from getting hurt.

Reading Psalm 139:23,24 brought this memory back to me. It says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Just like my children’s anxious thoughts about risking in order to learn something new, I think this verse is telling us that our anxious thoughts show a lack of trust in God’s concern for us. We want God to remind us when we are not trusting him so that we can correct ourselves and continue following him with confidence.

Dear Lord, You know everything about us, every thought, action, feeling, and every detail about us physically. It is impossible for us to comprehend your knowledge of us, and you love us as well. Help us realize that we therefore can put our complete trust in you, without anxiety, and you will guide our steps. How wonderful this is. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do you ever wonder how people who have been victims of terrible crimes can forgive those who committed those crimes? We know that the Bible tells us we should forgive, but in some cases it seems almost impossible.

Proverbs 10:12 says, “..love covers all wrongs.” and in 1 John 4:8, John writes, “…God is love.” It is God’s love working through us that allows us to forgive those who seem un-forgivable, and to overcome those seemingly impossible conflicts we encounter.

Dear Lord, It was ultimately your love for us that covered our wrongs through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Help us draw on your love to overcome conflicts in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.