Thursday ~ April 19, 2012

Thursday ~ April 19, 2012


Psalm 17:5
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

An Unanswerable Prayer?

As an ever-loving Father, God wants to uphold our steps as we walk through this life. He wants to be right alongside us and prevent us from falling. And so it's entirely appropriate for us to ask the Lord to uphold our steps, as David does here in Psalm Chapter 17.

But there's more to living life than that. It isn't just a matter of putting the proverbial ball in God's court and expecting Him to make everything come out okay. No, there's also something required on our part. There's a condition that needs to be met, and we see it in the words that immediately follow David's petition.

Notice that "in Your paths" comes after "uphold my steps." In other words, there was an understanding in David's heart that he had a responsibility toward God. He recognized that it was incumbent upon him to walk in the Lord's ways and to stay in step with His statues.

Sometimes we can forget that part of the equation. We pray and pray that God would bless our paths, but we don't stop to ask if we're walking on His path to begin with. What if the path we're on isn't "bless-able" to begin with? God, please prosper my lone sharking business. Father, uphold this extra-marital affair. It's never going to happen, because God isn't going to bless our steps when they stray outside His will.

If we want to walk in the assurance that God is going to uphold and support us, then we need to examine our walk-our way of life. Are we knowingly or willingly participating in something that's not a part of His path? Are we praying an unanswerable prayer by asking God to bless "unblessable" behavior?

All-wise Father, search our hearts, show us Your path, and give us the grace to never stray from it. AMEN!!

God Bless!