We often laugh at characters in the cartoons who are wondering aimlessly and suddenly get a surprising jolt back into reality. Likewise, we cringe during horror movies when the victim is seemingly unaware of the dangers until it is too late. Our own lives are similar. We often wonder aimlessly through life without a focus or mission with each day. Then we are surprised when we have failed to follow God's teachings. We often say, "How did I get so far from God?". Often it is a gradual loss of focus.
Solomon advises us to stay focused on our path - no deviations to the right or left! When something is a priority, we tend to keep it on our mind continuously. However, as we become distracted with the challenges of day-to-day life, we tend to loose focus on Christ. He must be a part of our daily lives, not just during church services. When he is a part of our daily decisions, we won't wander from his guidance. It is the assumption that we can perform small tasks without his supreme guidance that tends to build confidence in our own abilities. As our confidence grows, our dependence on Christ diminishes. Then, before you know it, you are far away from the path of righteousness and wondering how you got there!
Let's keep our dependence upon him for all decisions - no matter how small. If he is involved in the simple decisions, he will be around for the hard ones! David clearly understood and expressed it well in Psalms 5:8, "Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face." David knew the value of walking the straight path. And he knew the only way to achieve this feat was for the Lord to lead him. Let's make the same commitment to be lead by the one who is never surprised!
