Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:10-15

“My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.”

Have you ever looked back and thought, “I wish I’d chosen differently”? If you’re older than sixteen, chances are you’ve felt that tug of regret more than once. I know I have—countless times I’ve wished I’d taken the other path, listened a little more closely, or made the wiser choice.

We humans tend to learn the hard way, don’t we? We gravitate toward the tougher route, even when a straighter, safer path is right in front of us. Scripture reminds us that if we tune our ears to wisdom, life can unfold more smoothly. That doesn’t mean we’ll avoid every setback—storms still come—but we won’t sabotage ourselves with one bad decision after another. Wise choices create momentum for more wise choices.

So, where do we find this wisdom?

1. Stay in the Word. You’re already doing that by setting aside time for daily devotions—keep it up.

2. Surround yourself with life-giving people. Seek friends who speak truth and encouragement. Need help finding them? Join a small group at The Naz—others are waiting for the same kind of community.

3. Pray for guidance. Ask God to lead you to the right group, mentor, or friend. Pray for the discernment to recognize wisdom and the courage to follow it.

Let’s choose the path that leads to life—one wise decision at a time.

PRAYER

Jesus, thank you for your Word. Thank you for wisdom and just being able to get a little bit of your knowledge. Lord, we pray that you fill us with wisdom and start to surround us with people to help us make better decisions. We want to be on the straight path and not on the curvy one. Go before us Lord and make it known to the person or group that I need to be in. Thank you Father for all that you have for me. In Jesus name, Amen.