Steadfast love...

by Elizabeth Stewart

definition of steadfast-

a: firmly fixed in place: immovable

b :  not subject to change

1. Synonyms-constant, dedicated, devoted, devout, good, loyal, faithful, steady, true, true-blue(from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary)
   I'm currently re-reading the book of Psalms in my English Standard Version journaling Bible. Today during my devotions I was struck not only by the frequency with which David writes of God's love for him, but I noticed that in the E.S.V. when he mentions God's love it is always accompanied by the word steadfast. 
   Psalm 26:3, "Your steadfast love is before my yes, and I walk in your faithfulness."
   If something is "before my eyes" then that means I am focused on it. In other words, I should be focused on God's immovable, unchangeable love for me. If I am focused and convinced that God's love for me is constant, dedicated, loyal, faithful, true-blue, then I will be a lot less prone to fear, worry, anxiety, putting too many expectations on my other relationships, seeking love in wrong ways, and other attitudes and behaviors that a lack of feeling loved can trigger.  
   I love that this verse concludes with "and I will walk in Your faithfulness".  Notice it's not "I might".  It seems to me that the psalmist's focus on God's love gave him  confidence in the the fact that he would walk in God's faithfulness wherever his life journey took him.  Now, remember that this Psalm is written by the same David who had some sin issues and struggles in his life.  The psalms that are written by him are filled with his struggles and confessions as well as with praise to God.  He didn't try to whitewash the truth about himself.  In other words, David was confident in God's steadfast love and in the fact that he walked in God's faithfulness, even in his times of weakness!  How often do we believe the lie that God loves us better when we're strong and doing good, that He's faithful to us as long as we're faithful to Him.  The truth is, His love is set upon us, firmly fixed in place, when we're good and when we're bad, when we're strong and when we're weak, when we're up and when we're down. Now, that's some good news to "set before your eyes"!
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