Proverbs 16:17

Proverbs 16:17

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The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.

Proverbs 16:17

Be Still - BTS
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I was driving back from a long work shift one evening, and I was exhausted. I was taking full time classes in university while working a full-time job. I thought that a change from driving the same old boring highway would be a good idea to help keep me vigilant and awake. I instead took the backroad late at night with twists and turns in the middle of winter where streetlamps are void.

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When I turned around a snowy bend, the back end of my tires began fishtailing. I tried to straighten the wheel, but the fishtailing only became greater and greater until the wheels of the car were perpendicular to the road, causing my car to flip over on the roof, crashing into someone’s front yard. I’ll never forget the feeling of being suspended upside down, staring at the shattered glass mixed with snow. I unbuckled my seatbelt and thumped against the crumpled roof, and then exited completely unharmed, thankfully.

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This scripture tells us that the highway of the upright turns aside from evil, and whoever guards his ways preserves his life. How often do we forsake seemingly bland and boring highways for an alternative scenic route instead? This passage is telling us to stay on the path that God has designed for us. Stay on the path that encompasses His boundaries and rules. Stay on the path that doesn’t have danger lurking at any given corner or side roads that get us lost.

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Obviously, I’m not telling you to avoid smelling the roses and to never physically take the scenic route…definitely do that every now and again! God is just warning us to stay on the straight and narrow in our faith because that’s where His protection for our faith is. Don’t dabble with sin just for a little splash of color. Rather, abide in Him and He will provide us with a deeper joy than any scenic route outside of His will can provide.

Be Still - MIR
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This passage makes me question my own lifestyle. How many hours do I spend watching TV, looking at my phone, listening to music, reading news, etc? While none of those things are inherently bad, they can pull me away from the ‘highway’ at times and cause me to go down paths that I don’t want to be on. This proverb is urging us to be mindful of what we expose our eyes, ears, hearts, hands, and feet to. Be vigilant. Be control of the noise rather than allowing the noise to control us.

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Every new day is a choice to set our sight on Jesus. But how often do I wake up and check my phone for messages, notifications etc? How often do we start our day by paving our own highway when our Maker has designed that route for us? When we don’t allow Him to be our priority, we leave His highway, and we don’t experience His best for us.

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But you know what I do find encouraging? He is ready at any moment to make our path straight. No matter how far off the path it feels like we are, He is ready to lead us back. I know for me personally, shame has led me to attempt navigating the way back by myself in the dark, and I end up being more lost than ever. When we reach out to Him for help, He lights the way. He doesn’t wish for us to be wandering alone and cold in the dark, so why do we sometimes choose that way instead? Ask Him to lead you and watch what happens.

Be Still - EIP
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God, please light my path. I oftentimes try to find my own way back to you, but You are the only One who can lead me back to the right path! Help me wake up in the morning and choose to lean into your guidance rather than creating my own route. Lead me in your path of righteousness so that I can remain within the boundaries and borders of your protection today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.  

Proverbs 16:17

Behind the Scenes

I was driving back from a long work shift one evening, and I was exhausted. I was taking full time classes in university while working a full-time job. I thought that a change from driving the same old boring highway would be a good idea to help keep me vigilant and awake. I instead took the backroad late at night with twists and turns in the middle of winter where streetlamps are void.  

When I turned around a snowy bend, the back end of my tires began fishtailing.  I tried to straighten the wheel, but the fishtailing only became greater and greater until the wheels of the car were perpendicular to the road, causing my car to flip over on the roof, crashing into someone’s front yard. I’ll never forget the feeling of being suspended upside down, staring at the shattered glass mixed with snow. I unbuckled my seatbelt and thumped against the crumpled roof, and then exited completely unharmed, thankfully.   

This scripture tells us that the highway of the upright turns aside from evil, and whoever guards his ways preserves his life. How often do we forsake seemingly bland and boring highways for an alternative scenic route instead? This passage is telling us to stay on the path that God has designed for us. Stay on the path that encompasses His boundaries and rules. Stay on the path that doesn’t have danger lurking at any given corner or side roads that get us lost.   

Obviously, I’m not telling you to avoid smelling the roses and to never physically take the scenic route…definitely do that every now and again!  God is just warning us to stay on the straight and narrow in our faith because that’s where His protection for our faith is.  Don’t dabble with sin just for a little splash of color. Rather, abide in Him and He will provide us with a deeper joy than any scenic route outside of His will can provide.

Make It Real

This passage makes me question my own lifestyle.  How many hours do I spend watching TV, looking at my phone, listening to music, reading news, etc?  While none of those things are inherently bad, they can pull me away from the ‘highway’ at times and cause me to go down paths that I don’t want to be on.  This proverb is urging us to be mindful of what we expose our eyes, ears, hearts, hands, and feet to. Be vigilant. Be control of the noise rather than allowing the noise to control us.   

Every new day is a choice to set our sight on Jesus. But how often do I wake up and check my phone for messages, notifications etc?  How often do we start our day by paving our own highway when our Maker has designed that route for us?  When we don’t allow Him to be our priority, we leave His highway, and we don’t experience His best for us.  

But you know what I do find encouraging? He is ready at any moment to make our path straight. No matter how far off the path it feels like we are, He is ready to lead us back. I know for me personally, shame has led me to attempt navigating the way back by myself in the dark, and I end up being more lost than ever. When we reach out to Him for help, He lights the way.  He doesn’t wish for us to be wandering alone and cold in the dark, so why do we sometimes choose that way instead? Ask Him to lead you and watch what happens.  

Ali Bair

Ali Bair

ACF Social Media Assistant

End in Prayer

God, please light my path.  I oftentimes try to find my own way back to you, but You are the only One who can lead me back to the right path!  Help me wake up in the morning and choose to lean into your guidance rather than creating my own route.  Lead me in your path of righteousness so that I can remain within the boundaries and borders of your protection today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

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