Today’s Scripture is one of the psalms sung by the Jews as they journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate the Lord’s feasts. Though there were many dangers along the way, they realized help wouldn’t come from anyone but the Lord.
Do you wonder what dangers lurk in the future? God alone knows what we’ll encounter, and He assures us that because He is our Keeper, we have nothing to fear. He never sleeps and is always attentive to our cries for help—even when we can’t sense His presence.
Our loving Father cares for us physically as He guides and guards our path, but His priority is always our spiritual well-being. He watches over our steps and provides everything we need in order to avoid falling into sin. God’s Holy Spirit directs and empowers us, and His Word lights our path so we do not slip. What’s more, He has provided a means of escape for every temptation so we can endure it and stay faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Christians are sojourners traveling this earth to reach their heavenly home. What a comfort it is to know that the Lord will guard our steps “from this time and forever” (Ps. 121:8).
Our Creator has no need for anyone to direct or counsel Him (Isa. 40:13). Yet so often we want to tell Him exactly what to do and how to answer our prayers. Then we’re disappointed when He ignores all our advice. Like Israel, we might say, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God” (Isa. 40:27). But we, not God, are the ones who lack understanding.
Sometimes we grow weary in the trials of life. However, God’s ways are always right, and He promises to give strength to those who wait for Him (Isa. 40:31). Isaiah uses the imagery of an eagle with wind beneath his wings to illustrate how God lifts and carries us through times when we don’t clearly discern the way.
In difficult situations, we often don’t know which way to turn. But God wants us to wait patiently and depend on Him for the strength we need to endure. When the time is right, He’ll answer our prayers, guide our path, and give us relief. Until then, we acknowledge that His understanding is inscrutable and He never chooses a wrong path for us—even when it’s slow going.
In today’s psalm, we see David praying for protection and guidance as he waits for God. We all know how difficult waiting is during times of illness, danger, trouble, or confusion. But God can use these situations to develop the virtues He desires in our lives.
Faith. The Lord’s ways are nothing like ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). His purposes are higher and eternal, whereas our desires are usually immediate and earthly. Even when we don’t understand why God delays, we can trust in His character and faithfulness, knowing He’ll do what’s best.
Humility. Since the Christian life is God-directed rather than self-directed, submission to whatever He ordains for us requires humility. For this reason, we must acknowledge that the Lord is our Master and we’re totally dependent on Him.
Patience. In Scripture, this word means “long-suffering” or “forbearance.” It’s spiritual fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us as we wait and trust God to intervene at the right time (Galatians 5:22-23).
Are you willing to remain in your current position until the Lord acts on your behalf? Waiting on God isn’t passive or idle. It takes a determined focus on His wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness no matter how challenging a situation may seem.
Most of us know that at salvation, our sins are forgiven and God gives us eternal life. But much more accompanies our redemption: We receive a new nature, power over sin, and a renewed mind. However, these qualities require development, which happens through knowledge of Scripture, submission to the Spirit, and diligent effort on our part.
It’s a good idea to periodically evaluate whether our thinking, attitudes, and behavior are in line with God’s character and the truths of Scripture. Also, we should take note of what absorbs our attention. It’s not healthy to overload our mind with media reports or entertainment that doesn’t reflect God’s values. Regular exposure to such material can easily produce anxiety, discontent, and ingratitude.
The apostle Paul gave us a measuring stick to help us determine what is worthy of our attention. He said to dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8). With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can filter our thoughts through this list.
So ask yourself, What fills my mind? and give priority to things in these categories. As your thoughts align with Christ’s, you’ll begin to recognize what is right, good, and wise—and your life will more closely reflect His.
God is the ultimate Giver, and in gratitude, we’re to imitate Him. As He provides us with material wealth and possessions, we become channels through whom He blesses others and carries out His work on earth. Becoming a generous person begins with biblical thinking:
• Remember our heavenly Father’s goodness and love, which prompted Him to send His Son to die in our place. He did this to provide us with the riches of eternal life.
• Acknowledge that God owns all the world’s resources, and whatever you have is a gift from His hand.
• Release your grip on earthly wealth. Then trust the Lord to meet your needs, and share generously.
• Realize the church is a means not only for spreading the gospel but also for helping the needy and supporting those in ministry.
• Invest your time, talent, and treasure in God’s kingdom.
As followers of Christ, we’re to give faithfully to the local church and those in need. By generously offering back to the Lord a portion of all He’s given us, we’ll experience genuine joy, peace, and security. These blessings are of far greater value than anything the material world has to offer.
