Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground ~ Psalm 143:10

 

I talked previously about how we are brought to life by our Creator God, both in the physical, and in the spiritual, which leads us on our journey. This journey progresses through our daily living, which leads us toward our eternal home. It is a day-by-day experience in which we grow and are transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. What it is not is something we can do on our own. We cannot become more like Christ without His Spirit within us. Transformation is brought only by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have a little grand-niece, and I frequently receive images or little videos of her and the new accomplishments she is making in her young life. Some are funny to watch and hear about, and then there are other days when I know she stretches the patience of the adults around her. She is learning both about the rules and obedience, and how to stretch the limits as she learns and grows. I think we do that with God, too. He is our loving parent, and there are times when we need Him to be firm with us, to teach us, to lead us in His way. As loving children, I believe we do desire to please Him. Here, the psalmist is appealing to know what it is he should do to please God as he lives in obedience. He calls God’s Spirit “good” for he knows the Spirit of God is wise, reliable, and He will not lead the psalmist in the wrong direction. The psalmist calls the right direction of living “level ground”, a place where he can walk without danger, and where, if there is an enemy about, he will be visible and the journey then safely traversed. What is interesting is that he is not praying for God to keep him safe, but to lead him through whatever is ahead. He is asking to have a right heart before God in all the circumstances of life. We too must always seek to be taught obedience to God’s will, for that is what is best for us.  
Pastor Julia

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