Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Some questions I'm often asked are, what is the will of God for my life? Who should I marry? Should I really take this job? You know, I'm very, very interested in this person. Should I date them or should I not date them? Questions like this. Guidance. Direction. These are very, very pertinent to all our lives. These are very, very important questions. One thing that you and I should make sure that we know: you don't want to do anything, or you shouldn't do anything if you don't know God has that thing, that person, that direction for you. I know there's sometimes confusion. We struggle with what to do or what not to do.
I know there's that moment of mystical direction that we can't always understand. That's why we have the Word of God.
Our Verse of the Day today comes from Psalm chapter 119, verse 105. "Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
Psalms is really a personal response to the character of God that ultimately points to Jesus and what He did on the cross for us. Here in this text, very simply, the Word of God is to direct your life.
God's Word Guides Our Steps
It says right there again, "God's Word is a lamp to guide my feet." These are the immediate steps. I found out in my life that if God's going to direct me in a specific direction, He doesn't say, go in your car and drive 500 miles. He'll often say, grab your keys, get into your car, and then wait until I give you more instructions. Then drive this direction when you thought you were supposed to go the other direction. But see, the Lord understands who you are and where you need to go. He gives us His Word to guide us. He uses this terminology in the verse—"the lamp to guide my feet and the light for my path." This is a metaphor to show us that we need the Word of God for direction and for guidance every single day of our lives.
Now, very simply, as we look at this verse, guiding us, directing us, what do we take from this verse?
Let Scripture Guide You, Not Your Feelings
Well, very simply, number one: let Scripture guide you, not your feelings. We live in a world that says, if it feels good, do it. Feelings are wonderful in the right place. They're terrible in the wrong place, especially if you have to rely on them for ultimate direction. Feelings are driven ultimately by what we think. It's critical for us to let the Scripture, let the Bible guide us. Second Timothy chapter 3, verse 16 says, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness, that the man of God or the woman of God may be adequate, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
God's Word guides you and me. I love how David prays here in Psalm chapter 25: "Make me know Your ways, O LORD. Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are my God, and I wait for You all day long." This is godly David praying, "Lord, teach me Your ways. Teach me Your paths." You and I need this every single day. Have you noticed lack of clarity, lack of direction, or self-deception in your mind? The Bible says in Jeremiah chapter 17, verse 9, the heart is deceitful. You don't know your heart. We don't know what it is, so we need God's Word to guide and direct us because it doesn't come naturally.
Memorize Scripture to Guide You
Secondly, learn to memorize Scripture to guide you through your life. I love Psalm chapter 119, verse 9: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word." Second Peter chapter 1 says His divine power has given us everything we need to live a godly life—to add to our faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, all of these virtues and to walk in the Spirit of God.
As you think about this, one writer said this: the Word and the Spirit team up to transform the mind. In that way, God leads us in the paths of righteousness. Friend, you and I have the amazing road map, the amazing GPS for our life. It is the Word of God. You have everything you need. I have everything I need to live a godly life.
May we follow God's GPS as it points to the truth of the Scriptures, and ultimately, as we are transformed to being like the One it's all about—the Lord Jesus Christ.