Show me Your ways, Lord, so I can make the right choices in life no matter what situations come up and show me how I can be with you forever.
Prayer, Our First Line of Defense
When David was faced with difficult situation, the first cry of his heart was to the Lord, “Show me your ways.”
At this time – King Saul was hunting David down with the intent to kill him. As he searched the country high and low for David, he would kill those who had helped him. Thus the number of people who would hide David and provide food, etc. for him was diminishing.
Who could David trust?
The people around him – no, he never knew who would turn him over to King Saul.
David still had a few faithful friends at this time but he knew, without a doubt they could not help him.
The Lord – Yes
David was able to trust the Lord for help because he was in relationship with Him. Click To Tweet
Who Did He Turn To First When He Needed Anything
The Lord
Why?
David knew the Lord could do more than he would even think to ask for. (Ephesians 3:20).
David knew that he needed more than security in his current situation – he needed to keep his relationship with God alive and vibrant by asking God to forgive him and keep him from sinning. — He knew his life was worth far more than just being released from his current distress. [This does not mean that his distress or our distress is not real or that we shouldn’t ask God for help – its about putting being safe today in perspective with eternity – I want to be safe for all eternity not just for today and in today’s trial. I do want God to heal me, to provide for me, to laugh with me, to cry with me, etc., right now, right this moment. And I want to stand in the victory that Christ has already won for us – remember the war is won but the battles are still happening for us.]
Forgiveness is usually the first step in any healing that will occur in our lives. Why should we expect God to make our lives better in any situation if we are not willing to place our very own sins at His feet and say God the real healing begins when I stand before you, like David did, “a man after God’s own heart because he was willing to do everything God asked of him.” (Acts 13:22)
Forgiveness is a necessary step in our lives for any healing to take place. Click To Tweet
What Does God Ask Of Us?
Love
“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27)
Repentance
. “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3:19)
. “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Salvation
. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
. [Philip said to him, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] (Acts 8:37 Amplified)
What Did David Say To God?
A Few Examples
. Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. . . .Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. (Psalm 25:4-5, 20-21)
. Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. (Psalm 141:3-4)
. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:1, 2, 10-12)
Keep in mind when David was praying these prayers he knew all about facing tough times in life.
David understood the need for the Lord in order to defeat his enemies. (Including himself.)
Question For Us
Is God the first person we seek whenever we are dealing with the different situations in our lives?
I must admit that sometimes I actually talk to someone else, come up with my own plans and then approach God to ask Him to work it all out. OUCH!
Should have went to God first – when will I get tired of learning things the hard way?
Conclusion
David understood that his relationship with God was of utmost importance. This is why he was able to pray, “God, I place this situation into Your capable hands, my pain and suffering are real but I know that I have also caused pain and suffering to others therefore please clean me, I give you my entire heart, soul and mind, make the necessary changes in me so that our relationship will continue to flourish and help me to not sin. And when I do sin, show me Your ways and lead me into repentance and grant me Your forgiveness so I can be made right with You (have on the breastplate of righteousness).”
David knew that forgiveness is the first step in our being healed and being able to live our life’s differently based on the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
I need to remember to pray like this when I am facing difficulties in my life – sometimes I am quite content to say “Abba Father, please keep me safe – please help me to get through this” rather than saying “Abba Father, please help me to get through this current situation in Your strength and help me to not sin against You, help me to stay pure in my heart, soul and mind and to always have a righteous response.”
Let’s work with God to always seek Him and His righteousness first so He can add all the other things we need to our lives (John 6:33).
