The
Steps of a Good Man
(a message to myself)
by
Lauri Krentz
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23) I have heard the twists and turns of life described as the baseball analogy of life throwing a curve ball. A curve ball initially seems to be something we are comfortable with but suddenly turns an unexpected direction. I’m discovering that, in reality, life is basically a series of curve balls. You cannot escape them – they are inevitable. For Christians especially, life is a series of challenges and obstacles that are either an opportunity to trust and grow in Jesus Christ, or we can allow circumstances to undermine our faith and testimony.
I have always been thankful that we cannot foresee the future. If we could, it would be difficult to be productive in the present. The challenge is to continue to grow and be useful during the times we feel as though we are barely keeping our head above water. It is during these times that we must simply take one day at a time – sometimes even one hour at a time – and let the Lord sustain and direct us. It is one thing to say that, but how does it actually work in practice? Emotions are a gift from God. But they have the ability to undo us if we allow. What are the logistics of living one day at a time in a way that we are actually being productive despite feeling incapacitated?
Most mornings I run one mile around the buffalo pasture. The last eighth of a mile is a slow, steady incline. I am already huffing and puffing by the time I reach that point. When I round the last bend and see that uphill slope, it feels like I can’t make it. But I’ve learned something. If I focus on my feet instead of the destination at the top of that slope, I can do it – one step at a time. I’ve also learned that it’s a good idea to focus on my next step because the pasture ground is not consistent and it is easy to twist an ankle. If I focus too much on the destination, I’m liable to fall and hurt myself.
Life is similar. When there is baggage from the past, or the present is full of pain, or there is an uncertain future full of question marks and changes, the key to getting to the goal is to focus on what the Lord has for today. He understands our emotions and struggles. If we remain faithful, He will guide us – one step at a time. Take those steps, and before we know it, we’ll have made it. Of most vital importance is to remain faithful and effective for the Lord Jesus, no matter where we are in our circumstances. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
The Scripture promises that the steps of a good man will be ordered by the Lord. What is a good man? The New Living translation puts Psalm 37:23 in this way: “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.” A good man is a godly man. God is utterly good and faithful. He cares about every detail of the steps of those who seek and obey Him. There are certain steps we can take, no matter how we are feeling, that will guarantee that we will remain sure-footed in Christ Jesus. These steps also assure that He will guide our path.
Daily Commit Yourself and Your Day to Him
Each month we receive a copy of a sermon by Pastor Dave Wilkerson. A recent sermon focused on great saints of the faith who experienced periods of despondency and a sense of failure because their work for the Lord seemed in vain. Wilkerson says: “The truth is, we’re all called to one grand, common purpose, and to one ministry: that is, to be like Jesus. We’re called to grow in His likeness, to be changed into His express image. You simply can’t be a Christian unless that is your calling, your single goal in life.” If we take the step of daily committing to walk in His ways – if our daily goal is to be like Jesus – He will guide our steps. "All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of His resurrection; to share in His suffering and become like Him in His death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.” (Phil. 3:10-11)
Do the Next Thing
It is so easy when we are suffering to stop doing. Although doing can be extremely difficult, it is the doing that takes us from one step to the next. We must keep moving forward. Thomas Carlisle is quoted as saying, “Do the duty which lies nearest thee. Thy second duty will have become clearer.” I have always appreciated the following poem:
From an old English parsonage, down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration – "DO THE NEXT THING."Many a question, many of fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, "DO THE NEXT THING."
Do it immediately; do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His Hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
Leave all resultings, "DO THE NEXT THING."
Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
(Working or suffering) be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing,
Then, as He beckons thee, "DO THE NEXT THING."
(author unknown)
As we determine to do whatever task is before us (sometimes simply our commonplace duties), God will guide our steps. It is also important that we do the doing with the right attitude. Moping and feeling sorry for ourselves accomplishes absolutely nothing. We are called to always live in a right attitude. “And whatever you do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
Trust and Obey
For Christmas I received the devotional book, Come Away My Beloved, by Frances Roberts. In one devotional entitled “One Day at a Time,” Roberts says: “Be content with what each day brings, rejoicing in your God, for surely He shall deliver you. He is the One who has brought you here. His way is discernible to the eye of faith. His heart is surely your strong tower. In His affection you have security. In His love are your hope and your peace. Do not question and do not doubt. Each day holds some small joy that shall escape you if you are preoccupied with tomorrow.” A key to having our steps ordered by God is to trust that He knows what is best and that He will see us through.
It is not just trust that is required, we must also live a life of obedience to His Word. If we live in trust and obedience, our lives will reflect the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). A life of trust and obedience will generate the kind of love described in I Corinthians 13. Trust and obedience are determinations, something we choose to do. Colossians 2:6-7 says, “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” The key to being “rooted and built up” is quite simple – trust and obey. If we take the step each day to trust and obey Jesus Christ, He will show us the way.
When
we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with
us still,
And with all who will trust and obey. (John
H. Sammis)
Always Seek the Truth
There is one thing that a Christian can do that will assure that he will stray in his steps, and that is to fail to have a teachable spirit. If we want to assure failure, we can come to the conclusion that we have arrived. If we want to assure failure, we can refuse to seek (and heed) the godly council of others. If we stop praying,“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10), and if our own ways and perceptions become our only reality, we are doomed to failure.
The human being in his natural, sinful state is a frightful thing. Satan’s lies are appealing – they are believable. It is only by the grace of the Holy Spirit that Truth can be discerned. Disobedience to the Scripture, incapacitating fear, or being distracted by things of this world can all quench the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we become insensitive to the Spirit’s prompting, we will stray. There is nothing more useless to God than an incapacitated Christian. Scripture tells us that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, And according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10) In order to assure that our steps will be guided by God, we must daily ask Him to create in us a clean heart and seek His Truth. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Sometimes in the fog of suffering and confusion resulting from life’s curve balls, it can be hard to know which steps to take. But if we daily take the steps that we do know, we can be assured He that will guide our paths. If we daily commit ourselves to Him; if we do the next thing that lies before us; if we trust and obey Him; and if we always seek out His Truth – we can be assured that He will not only guide our paths, but we will have access to all that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has to offer. We will experience that abundant life in Him – even in the midst of the trial.
“Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your
sight,
O Lord,
my strength and my Redeemer.”
(Psalm 19:14)
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