Charted

What is Charted?

Like a master surveyor, Jesus gives us clear directions to find a fulfilling, purpose-filled relationship with Himself - a map to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Charted is a daily devotional written by the junior class at Fountainview Academy (Class of 2019). Based on the book Steps to Christ, this book explores the path to the Originator and Provider of Genuine Joy. We don't have to be confused about the way. The certainty is in the journey: divinely Charted.

You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and
holiness. Abiding in Him, you may flourish. Drawing your life from
Him, you will not wither nor be fruitless. – Steps to Christ, pg. 68
My mind spun out of control like a shot down fighter pilot.
How could my friends be so savagely evil, and how could I be so
embarrassingly stupid?
The party had been filled with junk food and guys who took
up every inch of available floor space. My friend, Paul, came up to me
and, with innocence dripping down his chin, challenged: “You should
see how many Oreos you can stuff into your mouth.”
Without a second thought, I went for the challenge. Snatching
the package from the counter, I dramatically ripped it open and
crammed ten cookies into my mouth. The mint flavor stung, and the
cookies were soft, but I was doing this to make a point. After downing
ten more, I began to feel sick, but blamed it on the fact that I had just
eaten twenty Oreos.
The next morning, students kept asking me if I felt okay.
“Yeah, why not?”
“Oh, I don’t know; just wondering.”
It took me a while, but I finally realized that they all knew
something I did not. I spied a cluster of my friends laughing at
something on Paul’s phone. Hurrying over, I was met by a video of
myself stuffing my mouth with Oreos. Those twenty cookies were all
filled with toothpaste! The humiliation was crushing, and so was the
piece of humble pie I had just eaten.
Oreos are an overwhelming temptation for me. That
temptation—oh, how sweet on the outside! But when I took a bite, I
was met with evil mint toothpaste. That’s pretty much what it’s always
like whenever I am met with Satan’s overpowering temptations: I can’t
help myself, but when I reach out and grasp Jesus’ helping hand, I am
able to resist—and save myself a lot of embarrassment.