You.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23, verses three and four a boy Scout learns to tie knots, use Morris code, and use a compass. One of my favorite Boy Scout activities was mastering the compass course that our scoutmaster mapped out for us on campouts. The compass is an instrument used for navigation, indicating the direction of north, south, east and west relative to one's location. As a survival tool, the compass ranks high up on the list because knowing how to use a compass can mean the difference between being lost in the woods for days and finding your way back home before dark. The needle on a magnetic compass always points north. Once you properly align yourself with a compass, you can safely and accurately navigate your way in any direction. Most people these days find their way by using the gps built into their cars or as an app on their phones. This modern technology allows them to find their way to just about any store or address desired. But modern technology isn't foolproof. What if the gps breaks? And if your phone dies? When you're out in the deep woods where grizzly bears lurk, you might die too. How does a person find his way if he or she has no gps or phone? Knowing how to use a compass is helpful in situations where you might be lost. Rare though those situations might be. In some cases, it could even be the difference between life and death. In the 23rd Psalm, David said that the Lord guides us in paths of righteousness in a world that is pulling us in so many different directions, life can become a tangled mess that leaves us confused about what is right and wrong. A moral compass is needed that will point us in the right direction so that we can find our way. The Lord and his word provide that compass. We can trust God's word to guide us through life on the right path, just as a scout can trust the compass to help him navigate his way through the woods.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.