Since there is negative noise constantly surrounding me and pounding upon me, and since I am influenced by a melancholy personality, I find it necessary to have my go-to verses of Scripture waiting for me as I rise to begin my day. Yesterday I shared a couple of passages and today I will share a couple more from the Psalms that lift my spirit and orient me rightly before the Lord so that my light may shine and so that I can be useful to the Master in the coming day.

Joshua 1, verse 9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

COMMENT: Joshua is in one of the most intimidating set of circumstances imaginable. There are a million Hebrews waiting on the plains of Moab. Their mission is to invade the land of Canaan, currently occupied by hostile people in walled cities. Moses, the leader for the last forty years, has died, and all the leadership responsibility now falls onto Joshua’s shoulders. But the command from the LORD is clear: “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD your God is WITH you wherever you go.” The follower of Jesus has exactly the same promise that Joshua received: The Lord is with us. Therefore, the same command applies: Be strong and courageous. We act with boldness and confidence because the Lord our God is WITH us.

Psalm 25, verse 12

Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way that he should choose.

COMMENT: This is a promise to those who fear the LORD: The LORD will instruct them in the way that they should choose. There are times in life when we do not know how to proceed, and often in those times we need to know which way to go and what path to take, because (we feel) there are consequences if we make a mistake. How does the child of God handle those situations? The word of God assures us that the LORD will instruct us in the way that we should choose. So, we seek the LORD and we ask Him for direction. We listen for His voice as we pray or as we go through our day or as we evaluate options. At some point we believe we have received His answer and we make our decision and we move forward, trusting that the LORD has instructed us and that whatever occurs is in accord with His perfect plan. But the main lesson is that the LORD WILL instruct us in the way that we should choose.

SDG          rmb          5/15/2020