Psalm 119:9

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” The way of youth is as unstable as the seas. Youth can be a calm quiet experience one moment and the next it could be Tsunami. Youth is a beautiful and tender time in a person’s life. It also can be a tragedy if you spend it foolishly. The Psalter asked a question he already knew the answer to. His attempt to draw in the listener is vivid. Name all the tools for cleaning and not one of them can cleanse the soul. (Eph. 5:24‑27)

“Ways” here speaks of the conduct of youth. Young people tend to live hard and fast. They desire to experience everything they can. It’s no strange thing to see them engaged in a multitude of ventures trying to make up their mind on what occupation they will embark. Here is where their peers enter the picture. Even some of their ways are not of their own design. What they engage in sometimes is from the beckoning call of others. Longing for acceptance makes them vulnerable to experimentation. (Prov. 16:18)

Not only is it peers that shape the youth in their ways, their parents become culprits as well. The bad habits of our rearing can be as devastating as the invitation of reckless rummies. The grip of parental pressure is far greater then any crony could conjure. A parent’s influences are unspoken yet heard loud and clear. They watch us like hawks and keep us under the microscope. We are their example of the great virtues. We are their meter of right and wrong. Not what we say or what we intended, but what we do shapes them to model after our own likeness. Our children are born in our image. How we live in front of them determines their reflections. (Eph. 6:1‑3)

Finally, youth is in contention with their blistering pride. Their pride is the force behind their foolish decisions. “How far can I go?” is the measure of youthful lust. Making bad decisions is a badge of honor to them, hardly enough time in the day to destroy one’s integrity. As fast as you correct one foolish error, they make up another defeat. Some day they will return to the vineyard of reason and recapitulate their mature side and see clearly enough to swivel from disaster that waits for simple souls who attempt youthful incandescence into adulthood. (Eccles. 8:11‑13)

“Take heed”, for the Word of God is the pivotal determinant in the winning hours of youth. Remember you can’t hold your youth forever. The Word of God will keep you from wasting it. Thy Word is a fountain of youth to those who will find it. Train your ears to hear wisdom and your heart to delight in understanding. Let wisdom be your guide and understanding your compass. Take no journey without advice and accept no reward without humility. Avoid hardness, bitterness, anger, deceit, malice, lying, cheating, swearing and foolishness. These all take youth and cast it to the wind for threshing. His Word will cleanse you and keep you young in heart and spirit. (Prov. 1:20‑26)

Word for Today
Determinant ‑ An influencing or determining element or factor.

Quote for Today
The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy.
- Alfred North Whitehead (1861 ‑ 1947)