It abruptly stopped and disappeared beneath our feet. Fortunately, we had a map.
Paths are supposed to lead to a destination. This one did—the top of a mountain. But it didn’t continue or circle back. It simply stopped. Paths are paths because people or animals walk them regularly. Grass is worn because of the traffic. I’ve walked root-littered paths, rock-infested paths, mountain-bald paths, and wooded paths. Some popular paths are even denoted on maps.
Walking paths have a purpose. I’ve never walked one just to say I did. I was going somewhere, looking at the scenery, or taking a shortcut. I’ve walked some paths that disappointed me and others that amazed me.
David was a shepherd and a path walker. “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3 KJV).
God led David to paths of righteousness and gave him the strength to walk them, but wouldn’t force him to. Sometimes, he walked the right path. At other times, he chose the wrong one. God has led me to the same paths, and I’ve followed David’s example: good choices and not-so-good choices.
What paths we take in life and why is important. A modern translation reads, “He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths” (NLT). Right paths lead to love, kindness, integrity, patience, unselfishness, godly living, joy, and peace. God provides the strength to walk these paths, but we must choose them instead of paths leading to the opposite.
When we rebel against the paths our Shepherd leads us to, we throw away the chance to experience life’s best.
The next time you’re tempted to take an alternate route, choose the Shepherd’s path instead.
Prayer: Great Shepherd, guide us to the paths leading to life’s best and strengthen us to walk them.
Martin Wiles is an author, pastor, English teacher, and freelance editor who resides in Greenwood, South Carolina. He is the founder and editor of the internationally recognized website, Love Lines from God (www.lovelinesfromgod.com). Wiles is the Managing Editor for Christian Devotions, the Senior Editor for Inspire a Fire, a Proof Editor for Courier Publishing, and Assistant Editor for Vinewords.net. He has also served as Web Content Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolina. Wiles has authored Don’t Just Live…Really Live (Ambassador International), A Whisper in the Woods: Quiet Escapes in a Noisy World (Ambassador International), Grits & Grace & God and Grits, Gumbo, and Going to Church (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas), Morning By Morning, Morning Serenity, and Grace Greater Than Sin (America Star Books) and is a contributing author in Penned from the Heart (Son-Rise Publications), Rise (Chaplain Publishing), and Love Knots (Vine-Word Publishing). He has served as Regional Correspondent and Sunday school lesson writer for the Baptist Courier and has also written for Lifeway’s Bible Studies for Life curriculum. He has also been published in Christian Living in the Mature Years, Mature Living, Parenting Teens, Open Windows, Proclaim, Stand Firm, The Secret Place, The Word in Season, The Upper Room, The Upper Room Disciplines, Light from the Word, Reach Out Columbia, Mustard Seed Ministries, Journey Christian Newspaper, Common Ground Herald, The Quiet Hour, Power for Living, Halo Magazine, Joyful Living Magazine, Christian Broadcasting Network, Converge, Sharing, Today’s Christian Living, These Days, Plum Tree Tavern, Eskimo Pie, The Scarlet Leaf Review, Creation Illustrated, LIVE, Purpose Magazine, The Banner, Relevant, Bible Advocate, Reasons to Live, Author Magazine, and Lutheran Digest. Wiles has also written for the Bridges and Pathways Curriculum (Warner Press) and is a regular contributor to Christian Devotions, PCC Daily Devotions, Theology Mix, Inspire a Fire, The Write Conversation, Inkspirations, and VineWords and is a regular writer for the Dorchester County Eagle Record, the Orangeburg County Times and Democrat, and the Greenwood County Index Journal. Wiles has also served on faculty for the Asheville Christian Writer’s Conference. crat, and the Greenwood County Index Journal. Wiles also serves as the Managing Editor for Christian Devotions , the Senior Editor for Inspire a Fire, and as a Proof Editor for Courier Publishing. You can follow him @linesfromgod.
