Guidance

"By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I've committed myself and I'll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything's falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Festoon me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules.  My life is as close as my own hands, but I don't forget what you have revealed.  The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don't swerve an inch from your course.  I inherited your book on living; it's mine forever — what a gift! And how happy it makes me!  I concentrate on doing exactly what you say — I always have and always will." (Psalms 119:105-112 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

God's guidance is so amazing!  He leads me into paths that I "knew not", or as the Message Bible puts it:

"But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way, who can't see where they're going.  I'll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I'll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don't fall into the ditch. These are the things I'll be doing for them —  sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute."  (Isaiah 42:16 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

What a promise!  I am SO grateful for his guidance!  He is leading me into things I wouldn't have expected to be doing at this point in my life, and I could be terrified, but He is indeed a "light unto my path" and continues to not only give me guidance, but also strength and courage when the road ahead looks frightening.  Father, how can I ever thank you?  Please continue to guide my way as you have promised - opening and closing doors as you see fit so that my path remains clear.  Please continue to uphold me and give me courage as I step forward.  And thank you for reminding me of another promise:

"Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.  "Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you will end up out in the cold —  real losers. Those who worked against you will end up empty-handed —  nothing to show for their lives.  When you go out looking for your old adversaries you won't find them —  Not a trace of your old enemies, not even a memory.  That's right. Because I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go. I'm telling you, 'Don't panic. I'm right here to help you.'"  (Isaiah 41:10-13 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.) 

Thank you, Father!  You know my insecurities and my fears.  Please keep my eyes on you so I will not start to sink beneath it all like Peter when he walked the waves.  Father, I want to promise with the Psalmist that I will always follow your guidance, but I know my human weaknesses.  Please keep me close to you at all times. I know it is not something I can do on my own, but as Jude reminds me, you are able to keep me from falling (Jude 24-25).  Thank you, Father!  

Father, you know my concerns about time to get everything done, but I've seen that you know what I need to be doing at any given time to handle whatever is ahead - whether it's something I can see or not.  Please keep me focused on the important things!