The Lord preserves His faithful, those who love Him and keep His commandments (Psalm 31:23). He does not want us to obey for His sake as much as He does for our own sake.
We avoid so
many troubles and trials when we do things His way. After all, Father really
does know best. He created us for His purpose and when we walk in His will, our
life proceeds so much more smoothly and effortlessly.
Our soul
finds rest in God alone. He is our only rock and salvation, our fortress that
prevents life from shaking our faith. We have strong courage to face life's
issues, because God strengthens our heart as we hope in Him (Psalm 31:23,
62:1).
God is our
hiding place and He preserves us in trouble by encompassing us with songs of deliverance
(Psalm 32:7). Whenever we are afraid, we can trust in Him (Psalm 53:3).
Yet, He
allows the proud and arrogant who refuse to believe in Jesus for salvation to
reap the results of their choices - even to the point of eternity in the fires
of damnation (John 3:18; Psalm 31:23).
We are
crucified with Christ and share in His death to sin, even though we still live
on this earth. Christ lives in us and we live by His faith in us (Galatians
2:20). We are dead to this world and our life is hidden with Christ in God
(Colossians 3:1-3).
As we
delight our self in the Lord, God puts His desires in our heart (Psalm 37:4).
We make the effort it takes to clear our heart and mind of things of this
world, and instead to love the Lord with all of our heart.
We walk in
His ways, keep His commandments and cling only to Him. He orders our steps and
He delights when we walk in His will (Psalm 37:23). Even if we fall in spirit,
soul or body, we shall not be entirely cast down, or cast out of His Kingdom,
because God holds us in His hand (Psalm 37:24).
Prayer:
Father God,
thank You for giving us the opportunity to be risen with Christ and for helping
us to seek and set our affections and desires only on heavenly, eternal aspects
(Colossians 3:1-3). You make our steps firm,
when You delight in our thoughts, words and deeds.
Always keep us in the center of Your will; not drawn away
by our fleshly desires, but kept on the straight and narrow road, designed to
protect us by its simple parameters. Allow us to hear Your still small voice whispering "this
is the way, walk you in it.” We always want You to delight in us, and in our
ways; so You will keep our steps firm and our footing sure (Psalm 37:23).
Thought for
the Day:
God’s river
of salvation protects us in any fiery trial, and He alone is worthy of all of
our trust.
