Teach Me Your Paths

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

Psalm 25:4-5

AFTER BEGINNING PSALM 25 with a confident declaration of trust in God (despite the presence of dangerous enemies and a potentially crippling fear of disgrace), the psalmist shifts gears and asks God for help in knowing what to do. The fact that God rescues us doesn’t mean we have no part to play in the rescue. God often rescues us by guiding us and strengthening us to do what we ought to do and go where we ought to go. We are, after all, following Christ, not just some vague notion of morality. That being said, God’s ways—such as telling the truth and being generous—are not mysterious but are revealed in His Word. Christ and the Scriptures are of one mind. The person and the principles point down the same path.

Ever notice how many of the Psalms talk about waiting? (A lot.) Waiting seems to be almost synonymous with trust—the very opposite of “taking things into our own hands.” It comes down to this: Are you going to panic and try to solve things your own way? Or are you going to surrender to the love and wisdom of your heavenly Father and trust Him to guide you where you need to go? When you think of it that way, it’s easy to understand why the Bible says that “it is impossible to please God without faith” (Hebrews 11:6). God wants us to trust Him.

BOTTOM LINE

We follow a Good Shepherd who cares about His sheep. Knowing that, we can relax and listen rather than panic and rush ahead.

Moment of Strength: John 10:1-3