February 14
Walking in the
Right Path
“Blessed are those who live without blame.
They live in keeping with the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who obey his covenant laws.
They trust in him with all their hearts.
They don’t do anything wrong.
They live as he wants them to live.”
Psalm 119:1-3 (NIrV)
Sammy leaned against the wall of the convenience store, his hood pulled low over his face. His gang called themselves “The Shadows,” and tonight, they planned to tag the neighborhood with graffiti and intimidate anyone who got in their way. Sammy had grown up in a tough environment, and this gang was his family. They didn’t care about rules, the police, or anyone else.
But lately, something had been bothering Sammy. His neighbor, Mr. Lopez, was always kind, even when Sammy and his friends messed up the front of his house with spray paint. Instead of getting angry, Mr. Lopez invited Sammy to church every Sunday. “God’s got a better plan for you,” he’d say with a smile.
Sammy always laughed it off, but one night, after another run-in with the police, he found himself sitting on the curb, tired and frustrated. Deep down, he felt empty. Was this all there was to life? He remembered Mr. Lopez’s words and decided to walk by the church.
Peeking inside, Sammy saw a group of teens laughing and talking. One of them was sharing about how following God’s ways had changed his life. Sammy felt out of place but stayed in the shadows, listening.
The speaker read Psalm 119:1-3: “Blessed are those who live without blame. They live in keeping with the law of the Lord.” The words hit Sammy like a lightning bolt. He had been living for himself, ignoring what was right, and it had only brought him trouble and loneliness.
That night, Sammy couldn’t sleep. He thought about the verse and whispered his first prayer: “God, if You’re real, show me a better way. I don’t want to keep messing up. Help me live like You want me to.”
Over the next few weeks, Sammy started going to church. He told his gang he was done with their antics, even though they mocked him for it. With the help of Mr. Lopez and the youth pastor, Sammy began to understand what it meant to live in obedience to God. It wasn’t easy, but for the first time, he felt peace. He was learning to walk the path God had set for him, trusting Him every step of the way.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for showing us the right path through Your Word.
We confess that we sometimes stray and make choices that hurt ourselves and others.
Please forgive us and help us to live in obedience to Your ways.
Like Sammy, teach us to trust in You with all our hearts and to find joy in following Your plan.
Thank You for the peace and blessings that come from walking with You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
