Wooded Path, Prayer Rocks, & What the Devil Doesn’t Tell

I grew up in the shadow of a mountain, in a valley surrounded on three sides by a creek and behind the creek were mountains on all sides. Every time I go visit my Mom, it still feels like I’m coming home. My favorite place as a child was the little path that started outside the back door and wound around the base of the mountain behind our house.

That was my favorite place in the whole world. I loved the smell of the wood and leaves as they lay composting where God had strewn them. I loved the peace and quiet that was only broken by the sound of birds singing, squirrels clambering through the trees above me, and the occasional deer, snakes, fox, bear, and other animals that would run through the brush on the mountain that loomed above me.

There was a clearing about 1000 yards in where the sun would shine through the canopy of trees and light up the wild flowers. Off to the left side there were several huge rocks. I remember when I was a little girl Dad had told me those were his special praying rocks; so, as I got older, old enough to enter the woods alone, I would go out there, sit on those rocks and marvel at God’s creation, that little slice of heaven on earth. I spent most of my teenage years on those very rocks praying and talking to God.

As long as I stayed on the path, I was never afraid. Maybe it was childish to have felt safe with so many wild creatures roaming about me, but I never felt uneasy or scared. I had a deep knowing that I was completely safe. I wish I could describe the feeling of safety and how close I felt to God in that place. It makes me wonder what it must have been like to walk with God through the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day.

That little path through the woods where I spent so much time reminds me of Matthew 7:13-14 where it says Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Just past the small clearing and my Daddy’s special prayer rocks, though, the path narrowed considerably. The brush was thicker and less inviting as it started to wind its way up the mountain side, though I did often traipse up and down the path for long distances, I always knew to stay on that little narrow path, because that is where I knew I was safe. When I think of the scriptures where Jesus told us to enter in the strait gate, where the path is narrow, it always takes me back to that small narrow path. The farther you went into the woods, the narrower the path became.

Being a Christian today is not easy in this society. In Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Does that not describe the society that we live in today? All one has to do is look around to know that we are living in the last of the last days. As we are walking through these last days, we need to make sure that we stay on that narrow path where we can have assurance that we are safe and secure.

Below is a picture that I drew during those teenage years that I spent on Daddy’s special prayer rock.

There are a lot of things that the devil doesn’t tell us. He loves to spin an illusion for us, but his illusion is a lie, and we need to remember that. He will make things look sweet, but they will be bitterness to our soul. He will make things look good that are evil in the eyes of God. We too often willingly go along with the tales the devil spins for us. However, we are the ones who put one foot in front of the other as we walk this narrow path of the Christian life.

We are told in II Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves… We are told to examine ourselves, to prove ourselves, and to make sure that we are in the faith. It is not the pastor’s responsibility. It is not our spouse’s responsibility. It is not our parent’s responsibility. It is no one’s responsibility but our own to make sure that we are walking the straight and narrow path that God has laid out for us in His Word. It’s our own responsibility to make sure we are walking in God’s statutes and commandments.

This week’s challenge is to commit to examining ourselves on a daily basis to make sure that we are still walking in the faith. Are you still walking the straight and narrow path that leads to life or have your feet wandered from the path? Are you walking unimpeded or are you struggling through briar patches and thick brambles? Is there evil that you’re calling good? Is there darkness you are calling light? Has your sweet turned bitter? Are you walking a path that is easy for others to follow? Are you regularly visiting your “special prayer rock”?

In II Timothy 2:15, we need to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It doesn’t matter if man approves of us or not; what matters is does God approve of you?