Psalms 37:23-24 (NKJV)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
What a beautiful verse of Scripture. What a beautiful promise from the Lord.
Lately, I've been reading through Deuteronomy and I've noticed a phrase that appears over and over - "the place the Lord will choose". So far, I've found it in thirteen different verses. I may have missed some, and still have more chapters to read, but I've found enough to establish the thought in my mind.
We all love it when God chooses the next step for us and it's to a new mountaintop experience. But what about those steps that lead us into yet another valley?
Sometimes the place that the Lord chooses is not what we would choose, but letting go of our will and accepting His will is the best choice we can make. When it comes to these trying times, few of us have 20-20 foresight, but all of us have 20-20 hindsight. So, why don't we learn from the last valley we were in and apply the principles for this new valley we're in.
Go back and look at Psalm 37:23-24 again. God not only directs us steps, but He delights in every detail of our lives. WOW! God is interested in you and about you!
God knows who you are...
Where you are...
And why you're where you are...
In other words, God's got the circumstance under control. He's not aloof to your life. He's not deaf to your cry. He's not blind to your tears. Keep on reading saint of God!
You may fall, BUT YOU'RE NOT STAYING DOWN!
Oh, come on, I know this is a blog, but somebody needs to shout "YEAH!" I might get knocked down, but I ain't gonna' get knocked out!
Like Job, I can declare, "I looked to the right and left, in front and back, and could not perceive Him, BUT I KNOW THAT HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE! And when I come forth, I shall come forth as purified gold, tried in the fire!"
He orders my steps - everyone of them. He also orders my "stops."
God is in control, not me. Not my education, or money, or ideas. Let the will of the Lord be done. He's upholding my hand.
Let God choose the place.
I highly recommend that you read Psalm 37, and just in case your Bible is not within grabbing distance, I've included it at the end of this blog. Just remember, as you begin to read Psalm 37 that nothing ever occurs to God.
Psalms 37:1-40 (NKJV)
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15 Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.
28 For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.
