“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4, ESV)
On a dark, cold night in New York, I went through my first corn maze. The muddy paths and deep puddles made it hard to navigate, and each row of corn looked just like the last. It took us hours to find clues and finally the exit
Fortunately, I had a map, trained my eyes to spot small changes, and relied on family and friends who could see better than I could.
Life is like a corn maze, full of wrong turns and dead ends, and it requires a reliable map, clear vision, and a few good people to help us through.
We find those things and more in Christ's steady light.
Psalm 27 shows that David knew what it was like to face confusing paths too. Yet his first reaction wasn’t what we might expect. Our verse today tells us that after assessing his situation, he immediately turned his attention to God.
The Bible says that David’s courage and confidence came from God (1 Samuel 17:37, 45-47). David’s own words reflect his reliance on God for wisdom:
“I bless the LORD who gives me counsel…I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 16:7-8, ESV).
David’s confidence didn’t appear out of nowhere. We don’t know whether Jesse, his father, was devoted to God, but the Bible does tell us he observed some religious practices (1 Samuel 16:1-13). David likely learned about God at a young age. We know he became a man after God’s own heart because he did all that God willed (Acts 13:22).
We may not have grown up knowing God or following him, but today we can change course so that we, too, can become people after God’s own heart.
We learn God’s will and reshape our lives through practices like:
· Daily Bible reading/studying.
· Prayer.
· Being part of a church community.
· Fellowship with other believers.
Just as in the corn maze, not all paths led us safely out, so not all paths in life lead to the same Light. One path remains more secure than the others. It is the path to God through Jesus Christ:
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5, ESV).
Christ’s steady light was present in the beginning, guides us today, and will shine for eternity:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5, ESV).
Closing Prayer: Lord, guide our steps and steady our hearts. Help us choose Your light over every confusing path, and keep our eyes fixed on You alone. Amen.
