"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." v. 4-5
"The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare." v. 14-15
God,
I pray that the path and choices I will make will always be guided first by your wisdom. Help me to never lose hope. I thank you that you promise to reveal yourself to me if I am seeking you. Please keep me focused on the things I should be- and far from the thoughts that will entangle me as I walk with you.
This illustration was supposed to show a raised path with slippery slopes and snares below. One wrong step and I'd be down in the pit again. That's how I felt- I was in my second trimester with Molly, but I wouldn't let myself believe that she existed. It hurt too much to hope. But I did so desperately want to know God more, and I felt God telling me that that was what I needed to be focused on- not looking to either side and wondering if one wrong step was going to cause the demise of yet another unfulfilled dream. But as the psalmist states, his hope did not lay in circumstances, he hoped in the Lord. Good reminder.
That still is a lesson I need to apply to my life today. I can't tell you the countless hours I've spent smelling Josiah's hair with his head tucked under my chin just trying to soak in the smell. Or kissing his chubby cheeks wondering if he knows how much I love him, hoping he'll remember the sound of my voice or how safe he felt when I laid him in his favorite corner of the crib. I can sob on command when I think about a caseworker pulling away from the house with Josiah strapped to the car seat crying uncontrollably and wondering what's happening.
But none of this is about him. None of this is about me. It's not about building my family, or even being a "good person," or making sure Molly learns to be charitable. When it comes down to it- here's the bare bones:
I want to look back and know God more because of the path He took me through.
It's about God showing- and me acknowledging I see His plan.
It's about God teaching- and me actually learning and applying those lessons.
It's about God guiding- and me following Him.
It's about acknowledging God as Savior- and me putting my hope and trust in Him.
God is going to confide His plan to me if I fear Him. He's going to keep my feet walking the right path if I keep my eyes on Him. I don't need to think about the snares if I'm acknowledging, learning, applying, following, and hoping. Oh, verbs. Easy to say. Hard to do.
Showing posts with label path. Show all posts
Showing posts with label path. Show all posts
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Psalm Fifteen: Getting to the Holy Hill

"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue. Who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man, but honors those who fear the LORD. Who keeps his oath even when it hurts. Who lends his money without usery and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken." v. 1-5
The psalmist warns his readers to live a righteous life as they walk the path to where God leads them. To do so, he gives advice on conduct, speech, who to invest their time with, and how to spend their wealth. We will know how to live and not be shaken from our path if we find and follow the truth of God's word.
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