Here is a great verse that aptly fits the title to this devotional. Psalm 85:13 says, “Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.” Psalm 23:3 says, “…He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Here is something that blocks us from walking in righteousness. James 1:19-20 says, “So then, my beloved brethren…” Note that James was addressing professing believers. “…let every man be swift to hear; slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Let me review a definition for righteousness from Hebrews 12:11 Amplified. It says, “…in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action…” This verse is in the context of God’s discipline to His children. He uses our hardships, trials, and adversities as His tools of conformity.

Anger grieves and quenches the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:31 Amplified says, “Let all bitterness and indignations and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite) ill will, or baseness of any kind).” What a great description that leaves no loopholes!

The Holy Spirit was given to us to teach us how to navigate through our journey of progressive sanctification. He is the Spirit of Truth that will always lead us into experiential truth that will set us free and keep us free. We don’t want to quench His work.