March 15, 2025 Devo

March 15th, 2025

“Walking Through the Psalms”
“He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” – Psalm 23:3b (NLT)
“Whose Path Will You Pick?”

Several years ago, when I was a Youth Pastor, I had an incredible group of kids. They were from a variety of backgrounds. Some had wonderful Christian parents. Some had parents who were drug addicts or in jail. Some came from very affluent families. Some came from families who were poor. But I witnessed something pretty amazing as these kids came through our program. Where they went in life and who they became had very little to do with where they had come from.
Some who had come from homes where they had every opportunity they needed for success made horrible choices with their lives. And some who were from homes where statistically they should have grown up to live messed-up lives, actually thrived and have gone on to live lives of success, significance, and impact. So what was the difference? It all had to do with whether they followed the path of The Shepherd or followed their own.
You see, some of those kids, like some of us, decided to follow their own paths. Even though they knew about God, they thought they knew better. So they made their own choices. They followed their feelings rather than their faith. Some had to go through some pretty tough waters before they finally turned back to God. Some still haven’t. And the paths they’ve chosen have not only caused them pain and sorrow, but it’s caused heartache for those who love them and those whose lives are impacted by them.
David reminds us that God leads us on the “right paths.” Paths where He guides us. Paths where He can bless us. Paths where we can not only “make a living,” but paths where we can live “abundant lives.” Lives that matter. Lives filled with joy. Lives where we get to be a blessing to those around us. Lives that point to the goodness and grace of God. Please hear my heart. It’s not that God’s paths are always easy. They’re not. But they are BEST. And they are the paths that God promises to walk with us and see us through.
Today is a new day. It’s also a new opportunity. Whose path will you pick? Yours or God’s? Follow God. Our Shepherd knows the right path for YOU! That’s God’s Word for you today.