Day by Day
Day by Day
Annoyed. Agitated. Confused. Overwhelmed. Defeated. I am sure we have all experienced days that consisted of at least one of the listed adjectives. Maybe you’ve even experienced them all in one day. I know I have. Days like these usually leave me looking forward to the next day in which I anticipate will be better. But as I reflect; it was never the actual “day“ that was the problem to begin with. It was my neglect to surrender my day to the One who created it in the first place. That is why I love today’s verse (which is also my daily prayer), found in Psalms 25:4:
“Direct me, Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you.”
Psalms 25:4 TPT
Without spiritual examination, this scripture appears as nothing more than a simple verse written by King David. However, God’s word is anything but simple.
So before we get into it, let’s pray, “Lord, open my spiritual eyes and ears & prepare my heart to receive Your Word. Amen.”
I’ve always admired King David’s relationship, vulnerability and reliance on The Lord. David, known to be one of the most successful kings in the Bible; always seemed to be in pursuit of God. The word describes him as “a man after God’s own heart.” However, if you know anything about David, you know that he wasn’t just born full of perfection. He too, experienced days of annoyance, agitation, confusion, overwhelm and defeat. I believe that’s what led him to such a place of humble surrender. When you really examine this Psalm, you realize that David is literally giving God full access to lead his day(s), teach him and direct him. In his humility, he doesn’t ask God to lead him for the sake of success or comfortability but so that God would be pleased with his life.
What led the king of Israel (& Judah) to such a place of trust, surrender and reliance on God? I believe it was a multitude of life experiences. Life has a way of life’n but it also has a ways of leading us into the arms of God. And we can know surrender isn’t farfetched because David experienced the very things we can relate to. See, often times we hear these stories about the faithful servants of God through the Bible, and we feel that we could never follow their lead. But if you look at David’s life (found in 1 & 2 Samuel), you’ll find that he experienced rejection, he was disregarded by his father, he committed adultery & murder, he experienced the death of his firstborn, he was targeted by those he considered friends and he had operated in self-reliance at one point in his life. David was anything but perfect and yet he was still considered a friend of God because of his heart posture towards God.
With each of these events, even the ones he brought on himself; David drew to God. He learned from God. These situations caused him to trust God more and more. And each time he did, it resulted in victory. What’s more is that our Lord and Savior, Jesus, came from David’s lineage! -Talk about victory!
A lot of times we miss the life lesson in which God is teaching us because we are so honed in to our circumstance. Even the good circumstances. We spend so much time plotting, planning and relying on our own logic and ability. Meanwhile, The Lord, Who knows all, Who does not lack in wisdom; is longing to lead you. He is waiting on you to get to the place of complete trust and surrender. He is waiting on you to believe Him after He has proven Himself trustworthy time and time again. And though our feelings and disappointments are valid, we cannot let them be the thing to lead us. The word says that God is MOST understanding. He is compassionate towards you and your situation. But like David, He is also trying to teach you something in the midst of it so that you can become mature in your faith. So much so, that daily surrender becomes a way of life.
James 1:3-4 reminds us:
“because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
The same way God redeemed David from life’s difficulties, He wants to do for you. Not by bypassing the struggles but placing them at His feet. He wants to establish friendship with you throughout this journey -like David. So that you can be victorious like David. So that you can be in constant pursuit of God, not circumstantial pursuit. Abandon the need to always know and take solace in walking with the One Who does know. His “thoughts and ways are higher than ours.” (Isaiah 55:8)
We can start by taking it day by day. Praying the humble words of David, “Direct me Lord, so I can experience Your plans for my life.” Then we can watch and see how His plans unfold for us. Sis, to know and experience God is such a beautiful way of life! (Take it from someone who’s life is anything but certain right now.) And even while we still may experience tough moments in our day; the difference is that He will re-route us to His peace, guidance and love.
Be encouraged as you take small faith steps to trusting Him more amidst uncertainty.
God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. Psalms 18:30 NLT
You’re looking like a woman after God’s own heart, already!!
Let’s pray:
Direct me, Lord, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you. Forgive me for the times I’ve made it all about me. Forgive me for the times when my pursuit of You was only circumstantial. After all You’ve done, help me to believe. As I work towards releasing day by day, help me to see what You’re teaching me. Bring me into deep communion with You. Show me the areas that I need to hand over to You. And take me from being a woman who needs to know everything to a woman who just wants You. Like David was known for being a man after Your heart; May I be known as a woman after Your own heart! All for my good and Your glory.
In Jesus’s name, amen
