I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands. Psalm 119:176
Too often, I seem to be asking the question, "How did I get here?" Like a little lamb, that may be very cute but very stupid, I chased a butterfly - something enticingly beautiful that caught my eye, and before I know it, I am in dangerous places where the wolves roam freely. I find myself alone - far from the protection of the flock.
Interestingly, the word "strayed" in the Hebrew is also translated to mean "to deceive oneself." I believe that many times when I am lost, it has very little to do with ignorance and a great deal to do with deception. Either by myself or by the enemy, I have been deceived into believing I am in complete control. With this kind of thinking, I easily wander into these dangerous pastures with full knowledge and (I might add) an inflated sense of my ability to fight the enemy.
Lord, forgive me for believing the lies. I can't do it without You. I am powerless to fight the wolves who would harm me. Why do I choose to walk among them? Help me to put my trust in Your Word. Help me to distinguish the lies from the truth. Help me to stay near. Protect me from the darkness. Protect me from myself.