“Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.”
“One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple…
You have said, ‘Seek my face.’
My heart says to you,
‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.”
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul…
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!” Psalm 25:4-5; 27:4,8,11; 32:8; 143:8,10
“Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you.” Exodus 33:13
As we mature in Christ, we grow in desire to know more of Him. And the more we know Him, the stronger and more wise we grow. Such is the dynamic life of a child of God.
“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3
Has our walk with Christ grown static, bland, anemic? Has a spiritual drought caused or been caused by a lack of church involvement, a distancing from the healthy refinement of fellowship, an apathy toward deep reading and study of the scriptures? Have we grown complacent in grabbing and fast-tasting others’ sound bites without significant soul nourishment, giving as rote habit with no sacrifice, settling into provincial comforts and ease with no connection to God’s larger world? These are symptoms of sure stagnation, but they can be remedied.
It is a healthy practice to regularly assess our spiritual stance: how earnestly do we desire the Lord? How do we pace our walk? On what principles do we daily stand for decision-making and interactions? Where do we sit for input and refreshment?
What steps can we take today to foster growth that blesses others and honors the Lord? How will we put into practice what we learn from God’s word? What can we get rid of that hinders high stretching and wide reaching?
Father, stir passion in my heart and mind to seek You and to grow and bear much fruit for the good of those around me and the magnification of Your splendor.
As the rain and snow 