The line that stood out to me in the Gospel this morning was:

“Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick…”

For some reason, I got stuck on the walking stick. Food, money, clothes, those are things you actually need. But a walking stick is really just a tool. It makes the journey a little easier.

So why would Jesus tell them to leave it behind?

Maybe He was teaching them that the journey was going to be hard, but they needed to trust Him. They didn’t need every tool to make the road easier. They needed to trust that He would guide them.

That brought me back to the Psalm:

“Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.”

Maybe that is what they needed. His Word to guide their feet. And then the first reading warns about becoming so full that we forget the Lord.

That feels pretty personal for me today. I’m traveling to a company leadership conference, and one of my prayers this morning was to surrender status and praise. I know pride and ego are things I will have to fight. I can walk into a room like that wondering who I need to talk to or what someone might be able to do for me.

But my prayer this morning was different. Lord, help me see Jesus in everyone I meet. Help me be genuinely interested in the person in front of me, not because of their title or what they can do for me, but because You put them in front of me.

Maybe those are some of my walking sticks today. Status. Praise. Ego. Trying to control the journey instead of simply letting God guide my feet.

Maybe I don’t need to fill my pack with those things. Maybe I need to be full of His Word and trust Him with where He leads me.

So my prayer today is: Lord, help me leave the walking stick behind. Let Your Word be a lamp for my feet, keep me humble, and help me see You in every person I meet today.

I pray you get the graces you need today.

Keep up the good fight.

I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.

Scripture: Proverbs 30:5–9 | Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163 | Luke 9:1–6