Scripture Sunday: Along the Path

Our scripture for this month is a bit longer, but worth the effort.

Take time to really read portions of the prayer from David in Psalm 16:

¹ Keep me safe, my God,
    for in you I take refuge.

² I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    apart from you I have no good thing.”

⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

¹¹ 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. 

 

Think back to your high school years. What dreams or plans did you have? Could you have ever dreamed your life would turn out like it has?

 

As a high school teacher I was constantly asking my students what their plans were and what was "next" for them. Some had answers, others just wanted to make it through their high school career and couldn't think beyond that milestone.

 

No matter what your "plan" was, it involved choosing a path. Our educational and professional paths can seem pretty clear when we begin, but sometimes the path for our relationships and spiritual life is a bit more involved.  

 

When life is good and everything is going our way our path feels straight, clear and pleasant. That's when it's easy for us to declare verse 2 from Psalm 16, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."  I can declare that Jesus is my everything when I don't have anything blocking my path.

 

One of the best parts of being in relationship with a loving, creative God is knowing He wants to be in a relationship with us - ALL the time, not just when things get tough. He wants to "counsel" us and He's with us at all times so we "will not be shaken". I love how David connects with God.

 

My most favorite activity is taking a walk with someone because the only thing we can do is talk with each other. Some of the best conversations I've had with my children came as a result of following a path up a mountain. We love to hike and I am often amazed at what they share and the topics they bring up.

 

How much time do you spend simply being with God? Are you doing all the talking or are you taking time to really listen? As much as we'd like to know all the answers or be able to see where our "path" is going to end up - that's just not how it works. In verse 11 David acknowledges that God shows him the "path of life", but he doesn't say God shows him WHICH path to choose.

 

If you feel like you've chosen a bad path or that life has forced a difficult road on you - take heart. God offers us life through His truth. We do not have to be consumed by fear, even if our current path seems dark. We can read scripture and hold tightly to the promises we discover.

 

As we walk the path of life, let's follow the directions from Psalm 11 to help us grow as women after God's own heart...

 

     * Keep our eyes on the Lord

     * Accept God's counsel

     * Claim God's presence with us at all times

     * Remain unshaken with the Lord at our side 

     * Find our refuge in God

     * Remember that Jesus is better than anything this world has to offer

 

 

Thank you for taking time to be a woman of the Word and for allowing scripture to be a living, active presence in your life - you are wonderful!

 

Kasey

 

.