God Leads the Way
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“I will go before you” (Isaiah 45:2).
Read Psalm 23
When I opened my 2009 calendar to January, the verse at the top captured my attention: “I will go before you” (Isaiah 45:2). What a comfort! Whatever I face this year, God promises to go before me. He will be there first to prepare the way, every day of the year.
This verse reminds me of Psalm 23, which speaks of the Lord as my Shepherd. I love this picture of Jesus, because shepherds lead their flocks. They don’t walk behind them to drive and herd their flocks. Sheep are led.
Life Lesson: Time management
Are you still growing spiritually?: Check your compass and let God lead you
Since we belong to Jesus’ flock and He’s our Good Shepherd, where will He lead us? Psalm 23:2-3 tells us: beside the still waters and in paths of righteousness. Isn’t that reassuring? We can trust our Shepherd to lead us to refreshing waters and along protected paths, free from spiritual dangers. One friend put it this way: “When I don’t know what to do or how to get through a situation, I ask God to go before me and make the way straight. This makes me feel I’m not alone, and He has already figured out a solution.”
As another year with new opportunities begins, where might God lead us? We don’t know what will fill our calendar pages, but we can be confident and courageous since God goes before us. As we follow Him, our paths may not be easy, but they will be safe because we walk on prepared paths of righteousness.
Lord God, You are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. You are also the Good Shepherd Who leads us. Help us stay close to You and not stray from Your paths. Help us fill each day with the plans You have for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Questions: What are you facing this year? How can you stay close to the Shepherd and remain on the path He has prepared for you?
About the Author Lydia Harris
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Because of You, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
thank you for todays devotional
Dear Linda, and others who have offered prayer support for my friend, I just learned this afternoon that my friend’s surgery has been postponed for a week, and so I wanted to let you know this and thank you for your continued prayers!
Dear Heavenly Father I just bring Pam before You right now, Jesus I ask that You would be with her, Your healing Hand would be Upon Her whether it be instantaneously or through the surgeons. Dear Lord I just pray she will come out of this surgery cancer FREE and that ALL THE GLORY WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU!!! Jesus You and You alone see Pams soul and whether or not she has given her life to you or not, I just pray that if she hasn’t that she will and she will do it because she will come to realize that You Are The Savior of Her Soul, Her King of Kings and Lord of Lords and that she will be open and will to have Marilyn share Your Love and Salvation Message to her and she will be open and willing to invite you into her life as Her Lord and Savior . Just give Marilyn the wisdom, compassion and strength in all she is to say and do at this time I pray In Your Name In Faith Believing Amen! Hugs, Linda !!!
Hi again, I realize that my prayer request may not reach some of you until after-the-fact, but I am trusting God for the outcome, and know that He knows our prayers before they are formed in our minds and hearts! I tried to submit this prayer request last evening, but there were technical difficulties on this website that precluded it. So, thank you for your prayers for Pam, for I know that He is listening! God bless!
Good morning, dear sisters! I shared this prayer request on the devotion from 2 days ago, but thought I would share it here, as well. I have a prayer request that I would ask of you — it is for a friend of mine, who faces a second surgery today for cancer discovered 2/1/2 months ago. I am not sure of her spiritual condition, as in the time I have known her, she has not shared any spiritual thoughts or experiences. And so, I ask that you would lift her (Pam) up in prayer, first for salvation, then for God’s divine care and healing, as it pleases Him. Thank you so much! (Linda, I know that you are already faithfully praying for my friend, thank you my precious sister!)
Hi Anne, Refilwe, Joanne and Barbara my heart goes out to each one of you ladies and oh how I wish we could all just sit together over coffee and share, encourage, cry and pray for one another. I too live with chronic pain. I know God is with me but to be totally Honest I don’t always feel Him & yes He does feel Far, far away sometime to the point where satan would love me to believe He has left me but that is where I have to claim his word which says “I will never leave you or forsake you” The Christian walk is not always easy but it sure is nice to have this devotional site to get encouragement and Christian growth and strength from and also meet new Christian Friends and be able to pray for one another. So Lydia thank you for your words fo encouragement and Ladies I will be praying for each and everyone of you! Hugs, Linda!!!
Having a godly vision/purpose to work on this year that will glorify Him is well worth still being alive even though my disabling condition is not totaly out of my life. A thron in my flesh that has allowed me to humble myself in ways that only He could do.
Without a vision we shall all perish and if it is a godgiven mission it shall come forth no matter what the enemy may try to do to us. Stand firm ladies and know that we are not alone and that HE loves us all.
Lord, thank you for these dear women. Please encourage their hearts. Hold them close and give them courage for each day. I pray for Joanne’s date and that you will go before them as they seek to reconcile. Thank you that nothing is too difficult for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Blessings,
Lydia
My husband and I (of 25 years) separated 4 months ago and last night he emailed me that he would like to try and reconcile. We will go on a “date” this Saturday. A sermon he heard at church 2 weeks ago ( I didn’t go but got the cd) about Romance and Marriage had a huge impact on him. Please pray for us as we try to work things out. We truly need to know that God will lead and that we are not alone in this journey.Thank you for this article. It really touched my heart
sometimes I feel like God is far from me but I know he is with me because of the promise he made in his word that he will never leave nor forsake me, he is always with me, my morning will come I still praise him even in my darkest hour.
Ty so much for this devotion. I was praying…feeling so…alone and overwhelmed…your devotion showed me..He is with me…altho I may not feel Him…Thank you…God bless you.