Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Lead Me On Level Ground

 

[Photo of a steep rural road]


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

Whether you’re a walker or a bicyclist, you do not like going up hills. I well remember as a child those times when I had to hop off my bike and walk alongside it, pushing it up a hill. Even with a three-speed transmission—Yes! Only three speeds!—I still could not negotiate all the hills around my little city of Bradford, Pennsylvania.

Walking was no better. In fact, walking up hills and walking down hills offered equal peril. I could either fall down walking up a hill because I would lose my footing or fall down walking down a hill because the steepness robbed me of my balance. In either case, my efforts resulted in skinned knees and ripped pant legs.

In our spiritual lives we constantly face both hills and valleys. Oh, how we long for level ground. We wish every day would only offer a steady forward motion with no crisis too steep to navigate or a valley to deep to contemplate. Apparently, we are not alone.

The Psalmist also greatly desired level ground. In fact, the Psalmist breathes this prayer in Psalm 143:10:
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

In our world today, we can long for this same loving care from God. We can ask Him to teach us His ways through our study of His precious Word. We can ask the Holy Spirit to lead us on level ground. Surely the Spirit will help us navigate the hills and valleys of our daily lives.

In fact, on this new day, let us prayerfully ask God to reveal His perfect will for us and, by His Spirit, equip us for our walk with Him.

 

Copyright © 2016 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.