Psalm 119:110
“The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.” In the Christian life, we must be on the lookout for traps set out along the way. Our enemies may plot against us in order to distract or deter us from our purpose, but we must not allow them to succeed. Even if they manage to achieve some sort of hold on us, their day is coming. We must remind ourselves that the Lord is on our side, and He will avenge His children. Psalm 37:12-15 “The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.” The plots and traps of the enemy have but one true goal in mind, to get us to err from the Scriptures. Though they may try to distract or divert us, we must stand upon the power of God’s Word. James 1:13-14 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” Our flesh is our greatest enemy. The lust of our flesh craves that which God hates. Lust leads to sin, which requires a steep payment. James 1:15-16 “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” Though traps and plots may be set against us, we must cling to the Word of God as we trust in Him. Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must lookout for traps that encourage us to err from the Scriptures. Bible Reading: Judges 7-8 | Acts 21 | Psalm 79
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Psalm 119:109
“My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.” David knew what it was like to feel like his life was slipping through his hands. The ruddy young keeper of sheep had fought a bear, a lion, and a giant; and yet, each time the Lord allowed him to prevail against his enemy. 1 Samuel 19:5 “For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?” Despite any danger or jeopardy that we face, the Word of God can speak peace to our souls. Psalm 85:7-8 “Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” Even though it may seem as if we carry our lives within our hands, we must not allow anything to come between us and our walk with the Lord through His Word. Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must be faithful to the Word despite any jeopardy we face. Bible Reading: Judges 5-6 | Acts 20 | Psalm 78 Psalm 119:108
“Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.” In order for us to be willing, we must first have a giving heart. So often when we hear the word offering we think of ushers passing a plate throughout the congregation so that the church can pay the bills, the pastor, or help a ministry or missionary. An offering is so much more than giving money for a cause. 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” An offering to the Lord is only an offering if it is done with a willing heart. Just as God will not force us to love Him, He will not force us to praise or serve Him. God wants us to praise Him voluntarily. He is not only worthy of our praise, He wants it! The Lord desires our willingness before any sacrifice can be offered unto Him. Psalm 54:6 “I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.” It is our reasonable service to offer ourselves in service to the Lord. He only desires praise from a willing heart. Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” May we daily submit our own desires to the Lord, willing to do His will with our whole heart. Psalm 103:1 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must be willing. Bible Reading: Judges 3-4 | Acts 19 | Psalm 77 Psalm 119:107
“I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.” Any amount seems like “very much” when we are going through affliction, but it is our perspective of affliction that makes the difference. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” We must make the choice that regardless of our affliction, we will allow the Word of God to make the difference in our lives. Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Sometimes the Lord chooses not to remove our affliction. Paul prayed persistently for his physical infirmity to be taken away. He believed the Lord could heal him; however, God chose to give His sufficient grace to Paul instead. The Lord’s strength was made perfect in Paul’s weakness as he decided to allow the Lord to display His power through his infirmity. 2 Corithians 12:8-10 “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must correct our perspective of affliction. Bible Reading: Judges 1-2 | Acts 18 | Psalm 76 Psalm 119:106
“I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.” The Psalmist had promised that He would keep the commandments of God. He wanted to keep his word that he would obey God’s Word. How many times have we promised to obey the Word? How many times have we said we would do something for the Lord? Our promises to Him must mean something to us. Making a promise to the Lord is a very serious thing. If we do not intend on fulfilling our vow to the Lord, we should not make it in the first place. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” When we surrender to do something for the Lord, we cannot go back on our promise to Him, for He will not go back on what He has promised us. The Apostle Paul knew that God keeps His promises; and sometimes, He uses us to fulfill them. Titus 1:1-3 “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;” God chooses to commit to us the responsibility and privilege to proclaim His Gospel to those around us. Will we commit to do our part so that all may know Him? If we want the Lord to order our steps, we cannot go back on our word to Him. Bible Reading: Joshua 23-24 | Acts 17 | Psalm 75 Psalm 119:105
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” It is through the Light of the Word of God that allows us to discern the difference of every false way. This verse, like so many others, is often quoted, yet rarely lived. God has given us His Word to be both a Lamp and a Light as we walk with Him, yet so often we keep the Light in while the cover of our Bible is closed. A Lamp Unto Our Feet A Lamp provides just enough brightness to allow us to take the next step. We can have present direction because His Word is a Lamp unto our feet. God wants us to have the faith to trust Him each step of the way. He doesn’t show us the big picture of His will all at once, but through the Lamp we can develop faith that He will guide us through every step ahead. In order to shine, a Lamp must have oil. The Oil of the Holy Spirit provides us the understanding to discern the Truths of the Scripture. A Light Unto Our Path His Word shines Light ahead providing direction as to which path to take, and also allowing us to see that we are heading down the wrong one. The correction that the Word of God brings is seen through the Light. Praise God for those times in our lives that we have been redirected through the Scripture! When we apply the changes that are needed, we can then regain our fellowship with the Lord. 2 Peter 1:19-20 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” When we don’t know which way to turn, the Word of God lights the way! Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” The Word of God provides direction for both today and tomorrow. He instructs us through His Word in each phase and journey of life, if only we would take the time to read and apply His Truth to our life. Proverbs 6:22-23 “When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must allow the Word to be both a Lamp & a Light in our walk with Him. Bible Reading: Joshua 21-22 | Acts 16 | Psalm 74 Psalm 119:104
“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Through the Scriptures, the Lord gives us understanding of His will for our lives by having a relationship with Him. While Jesus Christ stood upon a mountain as He preached to the multitudes, He not only taught of what way they should go, but also which way they should avoid. Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” If there are few that find the narrow way, many may profess to be Christians, yet their life tells a different story. Christ tells us there are many, and to beware of them. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” There are many today that have a form of godliness, but deny His power. They appear to be godly followers of Christ, yet inside they are simply without Him. God gives us specific instructions of how to react when we come across them. 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” We can discern between the good and evil by the fruits they produce. The fruit of our lives tells the truth about our walk with Him. Matthew 7:16-18 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” We must make the choice to respond based on Biblical principles. All throughout the Word of God we are admonished to choose the right way while avoiding the wrong. Loving the sinner, while hating the sin. Having compassion, while taking a stand. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must be willing to hate every false way that is contrary to the Truth. Bible Reading: Joshua 19-20 | Acts 15 | Psalm 73 Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” The sweetness of the Word brings joy and praise to our hearts. Jeremiah 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Our hearts can only rejoice as we are enlightened through the Truth of the Word of God. Psalm 19:8-10 “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” If we are to get even a taste of how good God is, we must trust in His Word. Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” What a reward the sweetness of the Word of God is to our souls when we take the time to taste It. Proverbs 24:13-14 “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must taste the sweetness of the Word of God. Bible Reading: Joshua 17-18 | Acts 14 | Psalm 72 Psalm 119:102
“I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.” The more we refuse to depart from the Word of God, the more we will remember what He has taught us through His Word. The Lord spoke of His consistency when He assured Joshua after the death of Moses, and He reminds us of some Truths we can receive when we are consistently in the Word. His Word tells us He will never fail or forsake us. Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” His Word gives us strength and courage. Joshua 1:6-7 “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” His Word brings us supply and success. Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” His Word removes our fear. Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” As we are consistently in the Word, He will consistently teach us to live more like Him. Proverbs 4:4-5 “He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must be consistently in the Word. Bible Reading: Joshua 15-16 | Acts 13 | Psalm 71 Psalm 119:101
“I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” “Oh, be careful little feet where you go” A simple children’s Sunday School song, yet it entails so much Biblical wisdom. We must be careful where we allow our feet to take us. The understanding we receive through the Word of God helps us to be able to recognize “every evil way” as we approach it; then, the wisdom from the Word allows us to avoid it because we fear Him. Job 28:28 “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Biblical wisdom and understanding develops discernment of that which is right and almost right. Incomplete obedience is disobedience, and we must obey the Word of God in order to please Him. We can protect ourselves from the evil way by guarding our heart and lives with God’s Word. Proverbs 4:14-15 “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” Our feet will avoid every evil way as we keep our ears, eyes, and hearts in the Word of God. Proverbs 4:20-23 “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Our way is determined by where we allow our feet to take us. Proverbs 4:26-27 “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must avoid every evil way. Bible Reading: Joshua 13-14 | Acts 12 | Psalm 70 |
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