A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Friday,
December 3,
2021
Pelican
to photographer:
"You
can take all the photos you want but I'm not gonna smile for
your camera!"
Note: We will not be podcasting while we are away from our home. The built in mic on our travel computer is just not adequate.
"Direct
My Footsteps"
Message
summary: Today may the
Lord God help each of us to consider our ways and direct
our footsteps according to His Word. Let us be careful not
to get ahead nor fall behind but walk in step with Him in
obedience to His commands.
Note: We will not be podcasting while we are away from our home. The built in mic on our travel computer is just not adequate.
"Direct
my footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule
over me" (Psalm 119:133). "The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in Him" (Psalm 37:23). "The mind
of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps"
(Proverbs 16:9).
Order my
steps in Your word, dear Lord
Lead me, guide me everyday
Send your anointing Father, I pray
Order my steps in Your word
Please order my steps in Your word
Lead me, guide me everyday
Send your anointing Father, I pray
Order my steps in Your word
Please order my steps in Your word
Yesterday we
walked along the Pacific Ocean here at Sunset Cliffs in
San Diego where we are staying. Later we walked around
Ocean Beach, including a long walk to the end the Ocean
Beach Pier, the longest concrete pier in the western US.
We ate at a small restaurant on the pier called "Walking
On Water Cafe" where the owner displays a witness for the
Lord on a plaque with this phrase below their names,
"Fishers of men". Their website and menu include the verse
from Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for
you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
A good walk
brightens our outlook, gives us opportunity to talk
together, increases our appreciation for God's creation,
and certainly is a great health advantage. Of course we
have quite a change of scenery from what we are accustomed
to in rural Pennsylvania.
I use an app called Strava which records my footsteps. It's neat to have a record of where we walked along with the total miles. We had a good time although surprisingly it wasn't warm enough for Brooksyne, as she wore two jackets!
I use an app called Strava which records my footsteps. It's neat to have a record of where we walked along with the total miles. We had a good time although surprisingly it wasn't warm enough for Brooksyne, as she wore two jackets!
Our walks
bring to mind an even more vital need in regard to our
steps as expressed in the daily text by the Psalmist. We
want our steps to be ordered by the Lord and to be based
on the truths, principles, and spirit of God's Word. Other
versions translate the phrase, "Establish my footsteps
in Your word" (NASV) and "Order my steps in thy
word" (KJV).
The Bible often uses the example of walking to describe how we are to live out our Christian life in step with God. The very first use of the word in a spiritual sense is in regard to Enoch who "walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away". Enoch's great grandson, Noah, was "a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God".
A wonderful reassuring promise we can lean upon is from Leviticus 26:12: "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people". In Moses' final message to the children of Israel he often uses this same theme: "Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess" (Deuteronomy 5:33).
We are blessed with an abundance of references all through the Bible related to this theme; far too many for this short message, but certainly worthy of study. The final Bible writer, John, uses this walking theme often in his letters: "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
"Order my steps in Thy word". Certainly one prerequisite in the personal application of this brief but power-packed daily verse includes having a submissive heart to learn more about God and to obey His Word. Surely we cannot merely pray this portion without having a growing knowledge of the Word and a determination to obey. Earlier in this very Psalm we read, "I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes" (Psalm 119:59).
May the Lord God help each of us to consider our ways and ask Him to direct our steps according to His Word. Let us be careful not to get ahead nor fall behind but walk in step with Him in obedience to His commands.
The Bible often uses the example of walking to describe how we are to live out our Christian life in step with God. The very first use of the word in a spiritual sense is in regard to Enoch who "walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away". Enoch's great grandson, Noah, was "a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God".
A wonderful reassuring promise we can lean upon is from Leviticus 26:12: "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people". In Moses' final message to the children of Israel he often uses this same theme: "Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess" (Deuteronomy 5:33).
We are blessed with an abundance of references all through the Bible related to this theme; far too many for this short message, but certainly worthy of study. The final Bible writer, John, uses this walking theme often in his letters: "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
"Order my steps in Thy word". Certainly one prerequisite in the personal application of this brief but power-packed daily verse includes having a submissive heart to learn more about God and to obey His Word. Surely we cannot merely pray this portion without having a growing knowledge of the Word and a determination to obey. Earlier in this very Psalm we read, "I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes" (Psalm 119:59).
May the Lord God help each of us to consider our ways and ask Him to direct our steps according to His Word. Let us be careful not to get ahead nor fall behind but walk in step with Him in obedience to His commands.
I want to
walk worthy
According to Thy will
Please order my steps Lord
And I'll do Your blessed will
The world is ever changing
But You are still the same;
Please order my steps,
According to Thy will
Please order my steps Lord
And I'll do Your blessed will
The world is ever changing
But You are still the same;
Please order my steps,
Lord, I'll
praise Your name
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, because I love Your commands
more than worldly pleasures or temporal possessions
I despise the paths that lead me astray like a lost
sheep. I am strengthened in knowing that I
don't walk alone, but hand in hand with You as my
Guide. Through eyes of faith I see a great cloud of
witnesses, those spoken of in the Bible, those from
previous generations and those I've known in my
lifetime, who've already finished the race cheering
me on as I persevere on this path of righteousness.
May I willingly endure any hardship that is required
of me as it disciplines and affirms my commitment to
walking in Your ways. I want to wholeheartedly seek
You above everything else, for You are a Rewarder of
those who diligently seek You and walk in Your paths
of righteousness. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Order
My Steps" Video Brooklyn
Tabernacle Choir
Ocean
Beach is a hippy like beach town.
This
is a view at the lower side of Point Loma at
Cabrillo National Monument
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Ester
took this photo of the San Diego skyline in
the background.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
We
are staying with a friend who lives along
Sunset Cliffs Boulevard right next to the
ocean. This morning I walked down a set of
steps that surfers use and took this photo of
the cliffs, which are slowly eroding away.
There's a spiritual lesson here as well!
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Finally
today:
There's got to be a lesson here!
Send
a message to Stephen
& Brooksyne
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Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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