Daily Devotional for January 1, 2019
The Water Hole
On the way home from their weekend camping trip, Joel’s head shot up when Dad stepped hard on the brakes and the van squealed to a halt. In front of the car, the entire road was covered with water. “Wow! That’s the biggest puddle I’ve ever seen!” said Joel. He smiled—this looked like it would be fun! “Barrel through, Dad. We can make it.”
Dad glanced over his shoulder at the steep hill they had just come down. On either side were fences. “I don’t know, Joel. If we get stuck, we’ll be in trouble. We’re a long way from town, it’s getting dark, and we haven’t been getting good reception on our phones out here.” He hesitated. “No, I’ve got to find a place to turn around, but I don’t see any down here. I’ll have to back up and find one.”
As Dad cautiously backed the van up the hill, Mom closed her eyes. Joel knew she was praying. Finally, they reached the top of the hill, and Dad found a spot where he could turn around. Mom sighed in relief. “Wow! I’m certainly glad that’s over.”
“Aw, we should have gone right through the water!” said Joel. “It would have been fun.”
Dad shook his head. “We don’t know how deep that water hole is. Sometimes you have to know when to stop and turn around. What looks like fun could lead you straight into trouble—in life as well as on the road.”
“In life?” asked Joel. “What do you mean?”
“I’m thinking of how Satan often makes sinful things look fun,” replied Dad. “Just like I turned away from the water hole, God’s children should turn away from temptations to sin. Jesus gives us the strength to do that.”
Mom nodded. “When you face a tough choice, ask Jesus to give you wisdom and guide you in making the right decision. He’ll help you turn around if you’re headed in the wrong direction.” – Carol J. Brookman
How about you?
Is there something you’d like to do that might be wrong—something that sounds like it would be fun? Ask God to help you know what’s okay and what’s wrong. Pray, read His Word, and ask Christian adults and friends for their advice. Jesus will give you wisdom about the situation. If you’re not sure, turn away from it and trust Him to guide you in the right direction.
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