Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
 and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4-5

 

Listening and learning from our Lord brings purpose (“show me your ways”). It brings direction (“teach me your paths”).  When we have purpose and direction, hope will naturally follow.

The world has no shortage of philosophies and philosophers, experiences and indulgences, ideas and ideals—all calling to us, enticing us, and inviting us. But as followers of Christ, we desire God’s truth above all (“guide me in your truth”).

If we reason it out on our own and our conclusion differs from that of our sister, who is right? Who gets to claim dibs on truth? Where do we go for final authority? God, of course. His Word.

Jesus said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth [emphasis added], and the life.” He is our Savior. He is our Lord. He has the corner on the truth. Settle that early on, and you’ll avoid a lifetime of aimless wandering on paths to nowhere. If you don’t have hope, or if life looks drab and tastes like plain vanilla, maybe you need to “taste and see that He is good.” Maybe it’s time to stop and assess the path you have chosen.

Why do folks try everything else first? Why do they resist simply bowing to the One who knows them best and loves them most? He is ready to guide us, to teach us, to give us the hope we were created for. Without hope, life feels like drudgery. Monotony. Going through the motions today, and then doing the same thing again tomorrow.

Without hope, life feels like drudgery. Monotony. Going through the motions today, and then doing the same thing again tomorrow. Click To Tweet

Are you sick and tired of being…sick and tired? Are you ready to embrace lasting hope—not just a taste or a glimpse that lasts for a moment, but the “all day long” kind of hope? Are you ready to bow to Him?

Are you ready to make Psalm 25:4-5 your prayer?

Lord, show me…teach me…guide me…all day long…

My husband teaches at a Christian university where professors are challenged to incorporate “faith-based learning” into their teaching. In my life, I endeavor to embrace that same concept, and to also follow faith-based learning with faith-based living in all I do. This means asking God to transform each role I fill—wife, mom, grandmother, mentor, teacher, volunteer, employee, daughter, friend, sister—by His truth. But how am I to move from vacantly checking off the list, to authentically faith-based, purpose-driven, God-honoring, truth-proclaiming actions, attitudes, and choices? By seeking Him. By following Him. By asking God to be my guide—to teach me and to show me.

To wear all those hats well is a lofty goal. It calls for more than I have the capacity to give. Thankfully, I serve a big God. Like the Psalmist, I want Him to teach me and show me.

A teachable spirit is a prerequisite to learning anything. Click To Tweet

The thing about having someone teach and show you is that you must be close; if you have to squint to see, you’re too far away.

How close do you stay to Jesus? Do you keep Him in your peripheral vision? Is He a distant dot on your radar screen, or are you following close on His heels? Like a little child following in the sand behind his dad, are you trying to plant your feet down in His footsteps?

In verses 8-9 of this Psalm, David says this about the Lord: “He instructs sinners in his ways…he guides the humble in what is right…” Acknowledging my sinfulness allows me to come to God in a spirit of humility. Those who think they have it all figured out don’t seek Him, because they don’t think they need Him.

A teachable spirit is a prerequisite to learning anything.

Reverence for God comes with a vertical focus on Him, because knowing who He is reminds me of whom I am not.

Are you ready to make David’s prayer your own?

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
 and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4-5