Walk of Life – Day 2 – July 2021 – Thoughts from the Book of Proverbs – Be Diligent

BE DILIGENT NOT TO FORSAKE THE GUIDE OF YOUR YOUTH

Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. Proverbs 2:17

Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? Jer 3:4

I vividly remember those days when I was into technical marketing and would visit a number of companies to sell products. Personally, am not very good at directions and many a times would find myself in the middle of nowhere with an address that actually made me go round and round the same place. We did not have android phones or Google maps and would trust the random passerby who sometimes would direct you correctly but oftentimes would direct you totally out of the way. It seems hilarious to think of those days but though these days we rely on Google maps to take us around physically, spiritually I think we are still there…clueless of which side to turn, which road to take, which dangers to avoid, when to stop, when to keep going or when to wait for the next turn.

Be diligent not to forsake the guide of your youth! The young life is the most energetic time of our lives where we are full of vigor, energy, and passion. This is the time you take the most important decisions of your life, the course you study, the college you go to, the career you take, the person you get married to and so on. Most of these decisions are very crucial and critical and determine how you spend the rest of your life. During these days, we tend to rely more on friends than on God. We love to piggyback on someone…especially while selecting colleges. You want to join as a gang from school to college so you just stay together…that seems more important that your career itself. Remember finally you stand alone before God. You take wrong decisions, get into wrong company, are not successful and waste these precious years of your life, no one will come to your rescue.

Be sure to have the Lord as your Guide. During your young life, spend time with the Word of God and spend time in prayer. Tell the Lord to lead you in every step. Learn to find His will for your life in every decision that you take. Hold on and cling on to Him. He is faithful and true. Do not try to go with the crowd. Learn to listen to the Lord’s voice and obey Him. It takes strong will power to be different. In a time when there is immorality all around, I decide to live a pure and holy life. In a time when you cannot get things done without bribery and corruption, I decide to maintain my integrity. In a time when the trend is being self-confident, I decide to trust in God and God alone. I will not look at man, at pastors, or at leaders as role models to follow. They are all human, after all. When they falter or make mistakes, my faith may fail. I will only look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. He is my Father, the guide of not only my youth but in life’s journey. No turn is unknown to Him, no path is unfamiliar to Him, He will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

One of my favorite hymns:

“Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me now and evermore;
Feed me now and evermore.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell’s Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.”