THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 17TH AUGUST 2025, SUNDAY MESSAGE
A Straight Line.
Mary Neumann (Georgia, USA)
Today’s Reading
Proverbs 4:20-27 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
20 My child, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Keep straight the path of your feet,
and all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
KEY VERSE: Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14 (NRSVUE)
TODAY’S MESSAGE:
In college, I had a job working in a forest, setting up boundaries for large entomology study plots that needed to be measured and oriented precisely so that all the plots would be the same. However, you cannot walk very far in a straight line through a forest — a tree, bush, rock, or other obstacle will always be in your way.
The best technique is to aim a compass in the direction you want to go. Then identify a distinctive tree straight ahead in the distance that is visible above the surrounding vegetation. Moving forward involves alternately watching where you put your feet and checking that your goal tree is still straight ahead. When you must go around an obstacle, you reorient yourself by locating and heading toward your goal tree.
My Christian journey reminds me of walking a straight line in the forest. Yet, there are many things to enjoy and interesting sights and sounds to distract me. There are obstacles to work around. I can trip if I am not careful. And at times, the view of my goal may be temporarily blocked. However, I walk without fear of getting lost because God is with me. I have turned my back on my past life. The Bible is my compass, pointing the way. And prayer keeps my eyes on Jesus and me heading toward him.
Today’s Prayer
Creator God, thank you for the beauty of your world. May we always hear your call and follow you. Amen.
Thought for the Day
I will keep my eyes on Jesus by praying and studying the Bible.
Prayer Focus
People who work outdoors
The Upper Room Devotional 17th August 2025, is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More
