ARE YOU WALKING A STRAIGHT PATH?

God’s path is straighter than any other. It also promises the most blessings and promises. Bless you as you look to Him to keep your feet from straying off His path.

A Straight Path        By Sally Bair

When my husband took walks in the woods to check out the trees for future firewood, he always walked a straight path. For him, the shallow ponds, puddles, shrubs and downed trees meant wearing waterproof boots. He ignored any obstacles he encountered on his search for the right trees.

Centuries ago, when a king or ruler planned a trip to check on his kingdom, workers made sure the highway on which he rode could be traveled with ease. They cleared the path of obstacles and made the road as level as possible.

God’s Word speaks of a spiritual highway. “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3) The analogy refers to John the Baptist, the desert dweller, who prepared the way for Jesus by calling the people to repentance and baptism.

Prepare means to clear away the obstacles. The meaning of straight in Isaiah implies level, while the word highway represents the hearts of those who must be spiritually prepared by repentance for God’s glory to be revealed on earth.

In other words, we must clear away any obstacles within our hearts that keep us from true repentance. We cannot accomplish this by ourselves. God’s Spirit draws us to Jesus for salvation. He gives us the power, wisdom and strength to clear those obstacles.

“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” (Hebrews 12:13)

When we find our hands useless and our knees shaky and weak as we try on our own to follow God’s Word, we need only ask for His healing and strength. A prayer of repentance and submission will allow God to work wonders in restoring our heart to Him. And when we find our feet moving outside His straight, level path of obedience and service, we need only ask Him to clear away all obstacles for our own walk and for the journey we take to draw others to Him.

Is your spiritual walk straight and level, or filled with obstacles?

Lord, thank You for promising healing and strength as we humbly seek to keep all obstacles free from our path as we serve You. In Jesus’ name, amen.