Seeking a Smooth Path

Daily Advent Lectionary Readings - Monday December 11th 

Psalm 27
Isaiah 26:7-15
Acts 2:37-42

But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name. All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. Your kindness to the wicked does not make them do good. Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of the LORD's majesty. O LORD, they pay no attention to your upraised fist. Show them your eagerness to defend your people. Then they will be ashamed. Let your fire consume your enemies. LORD, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you. O LORD our God, others have ruled us, but you alone are the one we worship.  Those we served before are dead and gone. Their departed spirits will never return! You attacked them and destroyed them, and they are long forgotten. O LORD, you have made our nation great; yes, you have made us great. You have extended our borders, and we give you the glory! Isaiah 26:7-15

Path at the Holy Family Shrine
near Ashland,-Gretna, Nebraska

A smooth path--not steep or rocky.  Great promise to the righteous ones--those who are living to please the Lord. Those who trust in the Lord and obey. That is the key throughout the Bible. OBEY. Listen and obey.No one will know what to obey if they don't listen. There are about 338 verses in the NLT that have the word obey. About 22 verses have listen and obey.
     - If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant. Job 36:11      
- If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD. Leviticus 18:5

That is the key--LISTEN and OBEY. Of course, this as written originally to the Israelites--but we can apply it to our lives today,too. do does make a clear path for us IF we listen and obey. What keeps us from listen an obeying? Our own selfish desires...following our own agenda...or following the advice, regulations or wishes of our government, spouse, family or friends. God has made our nation great--keep on praying for our nation...and Israel.

Prayer ~ Heavenly Father, may we please You in all that we think, do and say. Thank you that You have made our path clear--that we would not tip and fall over a rocky, littered way. Thank you for our great nation...and for the nation of Israel. May You continue to guide our leaders--giving them wisdom and insight.

Daily Bible Reading: Romans 14-16
Advent Random Act of Kindness - Collect canned food for a Food Bank.

© 2017 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.