Walking Along the Paths of Life

Scripture:
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
Proverbs 4:11,14

Observation: The teacher talks of the paths of life. Several times in this section, he refers to the paths to be walked along. There are paths of uprightness, and paths of the wicked. On the righteous paths we can run and not stumble, but on the wicked paths we will stumble even when just walking along, as if walking in the dark.

Application: I often ask the Lord to hold my hand as I walk with him. However, I certainly cannot do that if I am walking on the wrong paths in my life. If I am walking on an evil path, the Lord cannot be there, and I will stumble.

I need to analyze this. Is my secular work a worldly, evil path? Is my personal pride? Is my thought life? Which of these paths are wicked, and thus the Lord cannot be there with me? And are there paths of wisdom I am on where the Lord is present with me, such as at church?

I want to be on paths of uprightness all the time. I want to walk with wisdom, holder her tightly, as the Lord himself takes my hand and keeps me from ever stumbling. 

Prayer: Lord, may I find better ways to avoid the wicked paths of life, the ways of which I do not want to enter. I desire to walk humbly with you every day, on your paths. Amen.