“When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.”
– Psalm 119:59-60
It’s hard to believe how quickly and easily we slip, trip, and slide into disobeying God! A small compromise here, a bit of over indulgence there, a personal blind spot over there…. Before you know it, you’re moving in a very different direction from God! Fortunately, for followers of Jesus, He’s always ready to welcome us back onto the path of righteousness when we confess our sins and ask His forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
That said, we need to actually recognize those sins, errors, acts of indifference, and rebellious attitudes and actions. We must make time and space in our life for the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins and shortcomings. We must spend time not only reading the Bible but using it as a mirror to critically evaluate our conduct. Our standard of behavior shouldn’t the standard of the world. It shouldn’t be, “I’m better than that guy over there”. It shouldn’t be, “I’m generally a good person.” Our standard of behavior must always be Jesus. Are you following Jesus and becoming more like Him every day?
The first step back onto God’s path is to “think on my ways”. Regularly examine the conduct of your life. The way you spend your time and money. The things you get excited thinking about. The things you invest your life and energy into. Are these the things God commanded? Are these the things modeled by Christ? If not, turn your feet back to God’s Word and will. Hasten to keep God’s commands and don’t drag your feet in doing so!