Scripture: “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” – Psalm 25:5
Observation: David has such a consistency in his writings. Often, he seeks God’s deliverance from his enemies, but then moves into seeking forgiveness for his own sins. In this psalm, he is asking the Lord to teach him the truths of God in His mercy and grace.
Application: One of the most interesting things about being led is that we get to choose whether or not we will follow! When it comes to being led in our lives, we get to choose who will lead us and then decide whether or not we will acquiesce.
Basically, in our lives we get to choose whether we will follow God or ourselves! Jeremiah 17:9 reminds me that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” So if I choose my own leadership, I am choosing someone who is not reliable. In fact, I am selecting someone who is not honest and does not have my spiritual well-being as a priority.
On the other hand, when I choose God to guide me, I have someone whose qualities are exactly what I look for in a leader.
- God will never lie to me.
- “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” – Numbers 23:19
- God desires the best for me.
- “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jeremiah 29:11
- God makes no mistakes.
- “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” – Deuteronomy 32:4
- God will never abandon me.
- “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
No matter how long my life’s journey takes, I will wait on God to lead me because I know He will never lead me astray! Let us determine to choose wisely those whom we follow! As Joshua said, “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (24:15)
Prayer: O heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to me! No matter what happens in my life, I know that with You by my side, I can endure. Guide me with Your precious Word, and help me to follow You with my whole heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
It may be in the valley, here countless dangers hide;
It may be in the sunshine that I, in peace abide;
But this one thing I know - if it be dark or fair,
If Jesus is with me, I’ll go anywhere!
If Jesus goes with me, I’ll go - Anywhere!
’Tis heaven to me, where’er I may be, if He is there!
I count it a privilege here, His cross to bear;
If Jesus goes with me, I’ll go - Anywhere!
(from “If Jesus Goes With Me” by C. Austin Miles)
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“Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.” – Psalm 25:4