“HE LEADS ME IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” PSALM 23:3B
I want to welcome you to another new month. By His grace and mercy, God has kept us to see the 6th month of the year. As we approach the middle of the year and onwards, it is important that the Lord guides us along the right path. So, this month, I am bringing your attention to Psalm 23:3b:
“HE LEADS ME IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”
For simplicity, we will go with the New International Version (NIV) which says, “He guides me along the right paths.” Today we will be looking at 3 questions:
1. Why do we need God’s guidance?
2. When do we need God’s guidance?
3. How does God guide us?
Why do we need God’s guidance?
I read a story about a boy who said, “Lead me not into temptation because I can find my way there.” We may laugh at this young boy, but the truth is, that’s the way many people live their lives. They live their lives without the direction of the Holy Spirt. They see no need for God. Here are some reasons why you need God’s guidance:
1. You are valuable to God – And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows (Luke 12:7).
2. To know the right path – There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. (Proverbs 16:25).
3. To be prosperous & joyful – Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful (Proverbs 16:20).
4. To have great peace and avoid stumbling – Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble (Psalm 119:165).
5. To have a long life – Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time (Deuteronomy 4:20).
These benefits and more are available to us when we yield ourselves to God’s leading.
When do we need God’s guidance?
Many a times, people feel that the only times we need guidance from God is when we have a difficult situation or a life changing situation. Yes, we do need God in these times, but there are times that we may still need God’s guidance even in familiar terrains. Samson is an example of a man who did not seek God’s guidance when he went after the philistines because he felt it was a familiar terrain.
Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him (Judges 16:20).
By this decision, Samson lost to the Philistines (Judges 16:21).
Another person was Paul and his team that wanted to go and preach at Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit did not allow them:
Paul and those with him went through the areas of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit did not allow them to tell the Good News in the province of Asia (Acts 12:6).
One would think that Paul and his team was going to preach, so it must be important to God. But God had other plans. God wanted them to go to Macedonia to go preach.
That night Paul saw a vision. In it, a man from Macedonia came to Paul. The man stood there and begged, “Come across to Macedonia and help us.”10 After Paul had seen the vision, we[a] immediately prepared to leave for Macedonia. We understood that God had called us to tell the Good News to those people (Acts 12:9-10).
Therefore, it is important to seek God’s leading in everything, and then He will direct you. Seek his will in ALL you do, and he will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:6 NLT)
How does God guide us?
There are several ways in which God guides us. Isaiah 30:21 – Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Here are 4 ways the Lord can guide you:
1. * Using His Saints – A times, God may use a believer to guide us. We can seek counsel from trusted persons. Or God can use trusted persons to give guidance when they see the direction you are heading. An example is Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law:
14 Jethro saw Moses judging the people. He asked, “Why are you doing this? Why are you the only judge? And why do people come to you all day?” 15 Then Moses said to his father-in-law, “The people come to me and ask me to ask for God’s decision for their problem17 But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “This isn’t the right way to do this. 18 It is too much work for you to do alone. You cannot do this job by yourself. It wears you out. And it makes the people tired too (Exodus 18: 14-15, 17-18).
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14).
2. * Using Common Sense – Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, used common sense to direct Moses about his judge duties. He made him see how he was going to burn out if he continues in this path as shown in Exodus 18: 14-15, 17-18).*
3. *Using Scriptures – The word of God is what we use as a check to any of the above. If it does not align with God’s word, or leads you to sin, it cannot be God leading or guiding you.
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word (Psalm 119:9)
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Psalm 119:105).
That is why we need to read and meditate on God’s word as it prospers our way:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8)
4. *Using His Spirit – Jesus was always led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1). Paul was led by His Spirit as we saw in Acts 12:9-10. It is important to be led by God because it confirms us as children of God.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:14).
God’s Spirit is always connected to His word. For us to know God’s voice, to receive guidance from God and recognize His voice, we need to read and know what God’s word says.
Beloved, it is important to be led by the Spirit because we know that the thoughts of God towards us is for good and not for evil but to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 9:11).
I pray that God continues to direct us by Spirit on the right path.
PRAYERS
1. Thank you Lord Jesus for how far You have led us, from where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going to.
2. Father please forgive our sins, trespasses and iniquities by the power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
3. In the name of Jesus, I will not be stubborn and disobedient to God’s direction and leading.
4. My spiritual mind, I command you to become alert in the things of God in the name of Jesus.
5. In the name of Jesus, I receive the grace to hear from God and know when He is talking to me.
6. As the Lord lives, I shall not destroy my life through stubbornness and disobedience to God’s directives.
7. Lord, quicken my mind to understand your ways and leadings always in Jesus’ name.
8. My Father, have mercy on me. Restore unto me the joy of the salvation I have lost in the years when I disobeyed you and refused to listen to you.
9. Spirit of meekness and obedience, come upon now, in the name of Jesus.
10. Powers causing me to doubt the instructions and commands I receive from God, today is your end in Jesus’ name.
11. Father thank You for leading me in the path of righteousness in the name of Jesus Christ.
God bless you!
Yours in Him,
Pastor Lillian Haastrup
