I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. v17

As God continues to admonish Israel for its wicked ways, He continues to provide hope and encouragement - this is how perfect God - His love is present in all that He does for His children.   Today's verse serves as a great reminder for how we need not look elsewhere for our guidance and direction.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24

 

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

 

Just as God led the Israelites out of Egypt by fire and by cloud, He continues to direct our ways - as long as we submit to Him (Romans 12:2).

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me all I need to know my way.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”

Judges 13

Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.” v8

What a remarkable story of the birth of Samson - and how his parents experienced an angel of the Lord prophesizing Samson's birth.  Much like Mary with the angel Gabriel (see Luke 1), Samson's parents submit to this plan in humility and go one step further - asking the Lord to guide them as they raise Samson into who God intends him to be.

I have often prayed this same prayer and often neglect to say this prayer thinking I can be doing something absent any prayer - what arrogance and foolishness!  Also sinful...

All of our plans must be directed by the Lord. 

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Psalm 16:9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me - You guide me through good times and bad and without Your light I would be lost.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God who loves me as You do (beyond comprehension).  I worry and I am full of arrogance.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. v23-4

While not explicit, my read of these verses is that with God is our guide, our direction is true and sure that He will always place us on firm ground and He will always be there to coach us as we try and walk with Him.


Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17

As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. Luke 6:47-48

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God and You are my God, my teacher, my guide, my counselor, my protector, my healer, my provider and You are with me always.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth such a God - You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I continue to worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

What sweet verses that David expresses about God and who He is...indeed I lack nothing and "apart from you" I have no good thing.  He comforts me, provides peace, rest and directs my path and my walk - what an awesome God You are Jesus!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

My Prayer:  Lord, indeed You are great in that ALL good things are from You and that if I am in You and abide in You I know I will find comfort, peace, rest and direction - life in abundance and for eternity!  How awesome a God are You!  Yet I am not worthy of such a God - I fail to give You my first fruits as I am easily distracted by worldly concerns...please forgive me for my worldly desires and worry.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Thank You for Your grace and patience.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. v11

When I think of the path of life, I think about how it may not be as planned but it is all for my good and God's glory.

[The people] are the shoot I have planted,

the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.  Isaiah 60:21

 

The path of life is towards the eternal and that is where I should focus.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. v8

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  Hebrews 12:1-2

I am the way and the truth and the life. John 14:6

My Prayer: Lord, You are way, the truth, and the life. Apart from You I am nothing.  Yet I often think about my abilities as though they are my own hand for my glory.  You have been so patient and graceful to me...thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not worth such a God because I think of myself too often and my glory.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Please help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin, and serve You Jesus.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.