Psalms 119:26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
Recently I have taught the congregations I serve to search and try their ways as taught in the following passage:
Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
To search and try our ways means that we explore our ways, find out what they are, and examine them thoroughly. We should search and try the way we think, the way we act, the way we react, the way we relate to God and to others. We should thoroughly examine our desires, our choices, our plans, our intentions, and our motives as these are also our ways. And acknowledging our ways, we should declare them to God, as did the psalmist whose words we consider today.
What is it to declare our ways?
Declare - To make clear or plain (anything that is obscure or imperfectly understood); to clear up, explain, expound, to interpret, elucidate. To manifest, show forth, make known; to unfold, set forth (facts, circumstances, etc.); to describe, state in detail; to recount, relate.
The Hebrew word translated declared in our verse is caphar and means to record, enumerate, recount. When you declare your ways to God, you bring them out into the open between you and God; you list them off; you describe them in detail as you recount them both good and bad. And if you are not sure of whether they are good or bad, you ask God to give you discernment. Tell the Lord about your burdens, your troubles, and your temptations as these are ways down which you are travelling. If you are angry with someone and struggling with hatred, declare it to God. If you are angry with God because you do not think He is dealing fairly by you, then bring it out into the open. Don’t deny it. He knows what is going on in your heart. Declare it! If you are being drawn to something you know is not good for you, admit it to God. If you are involved in something destructive to your spiritual, mental, or physical well-being, have out with it. If your ways have taken you into sin, confess it. Are you depressed? Then tell the Lord all about it. Explain it to Him. If you are being tossed about by uncertainty and doubt, tell Him. If you are afraid of something, admit it to Him. If you are considering a move, a change, a business venture, a relationship, bring it before Him. Whatever your ways are, declare them to Him.
The beautiful thing is that when we declare our ways to God, He hears us: and thou heardest me. God truly does care for us.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
God is interested in what goes on in your life. He wants you to make Him a part of it by declaring your ways to Him. And when you do so, He listens to you. Just knowing that a caring person is listening to you is immensely helpful.
Now having declared your ways, follow that with the prayer: teach me thy statutes. When you do this, you are inviting the searchlight of God’s statutes upon your ways. This is part of the process of trying your ways. You are submitting your ways to the scrutiny of the word of God. And when you pray this prayer, then take to reading and studying your Bible. Listen carefully to the teaching of your minister. Seek godly counsel. And when you do this, you will receive the instruction that will let you know whether the ways you are choosing are acceptable or not, whether they are profitable or not. You will get the answers that will help you think, act, and react as you ought to whatever life brings your way. I close with this passage that relates directly to what I am writing about:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
1 comment:
ANCORA IMPARO!
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