Proverbs 10:9 says, "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out." If you walk the right path in integrity, God will be with you and guide you to peace and blessing. If you deviate from the right way, however, your unrighteousness will be found out to bring shame to you. Worse, you may get involved in evil deeds. Let's examine how to achieve an upright heart and always walk the right path.
You must cast away changing mind
Throughout history you can find people who followed the right path. Most of them didn't change their mind. For instance, there were the six martyred ministers of the Joseon Dynasty. They had served King Danjong who was dethroned by his uncle, who became King Sejo. The six were executed by King Sejo in 1456 for plotting to assassinate him and restore the former king Danjong to the throne. Their faithfulness towards their king and country did not change until the very end, death.
Many of King David's servants and people also remained loyal to their king even when he was being pursued by his son Absalom.
They chose to be with David and showed unchanging fidelity to him even in danger of death. God saved them and blessed them and their descendants as well.
As Psalm 106:3 says, "How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times!" if you unchangingly walk in righteousness before God and practice His Word, you will be blessed in everything.
You must remove wavering mind
James 1:8 talks about 'a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways'. Such persons swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another since they have a wavering mind. They often fail to carry out their plan or change it with no scruples. They look faithful, only to shortly betray.
Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:10, "For Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica…" Demas had learned the Word of God and seen many signs in the course of Apostle Paul's ministry, but he swayed and left him due to his love for the world. In the end, he forsook the Lord and cut himself off from salvation.
If you have such an unstable heart in your ways, you are much more likely to fall into worldly temptation. If so, then you must cast it away by trying not to swing to the right or to the left for personal advantage nor act with partiality. You must adhere to the promise you made with others or even yourself.
You must cast off the mind to seek your desires
Galatians 5:24 says, "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." To put it another way, you cannot say you belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify the fleshly affection and desires.
What if you hear something good about yourself? What if you are offered something you want? Many of you may just accept the word or take the offer since it sounds or seems good. However, if you are truthful you won't simply get it, though you like it and can take advantage of it. Though the decision causes loss to you, you will always discern in the truth and won't pursue it if it is against the truth.
Let's examine Abraham's example. Once the ally of four nations defeated Sodom and Abram's nephew, Lot, in Sodom was taken captive. Abram pursued and crushed them, and brought back all the goods and all the people including Lot. The king of Sodom went out to meet him, saying, "Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself." But Abram wasn't enticed by a desire to seek his benefit, but just thought about what would glorify God.
He replied to the king in Genesis 14:22-23, "I have sworn to the LORD God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.'" He hoped all glory would be to God and felt afraid that people might think he became rich thanks to the king if he received them. So, he took nothing.
When she died he bought a burial site for his wife, Sarah. Though the local people said they would give him the land without charge he still bought it at full price to preclude possible future trouble (Genesis 23). Knowing such a perfect and righteous heart, God gave him great material blessing and blessed him to become the father of faith.
Worldly people say you are more likely to suffer loss when you are nice and sincere. However, God the Almighty is alive. If you just walk the right path and please Him, He will lead you to prosperity and give you answers. Then you can shatter Satan's camp everywhere you go and reveal the glory of God.
Joseph was sold as a slave, was imprisoned under false accusation, yet it is recorded as follows: "…God was with him; and whatever he did, He made to prosper." He walked the right path but seemed to be faced with continuing hardship. Consequently, however, it was the path to his becoming the second ruler of Egypt after the Pharaoh; saving his parents, brothers and 70 others and their entire families; and establishing the foundation of Israel.
Hence, it doesn't matter what circumstance or position you are in at present, but whether you walk the right path or not really matters. When you walk the right path, God is with you. Then you are on the way to prosperity and blessing though you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death for the time being.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Let's achieve an upright heart according to the Word, walk the right path, and enjoy God-given peace and blessings in life always.
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