anitasanecdotes

Proverbs 5:21   ²¹ For human ways are under the eyes of the LORD, and he examines all their paths.

Who cares? We often say this when we feel like what we are doing doesn’t matter: that the things we think and the things we do don’t affect other people or that nobody cares what we do. Maybe we don’t care about what is going on in our lives and so we rhetorically wonder just who does care.

God cares. God watches over us and cares about what we think and do. God knows that whatever we are doing, we matter to someone else. We matter to God. God wants the best for us and is saddened when we go astray. God works to lead us back on the right path.

When we wonder who cares, we need to remember that God does. We are important and everything we do matters.

Lord, help us remember that we matter to you. Guide us onto the right path and the right ways of living. Amen.

Psalm 119:59-60  ⁵⁹ When I think of your ways, I turn my feet to your decrees;  ⁶⁰ I hurry and do not delay to keep your commandments.

When you have something to do, do you get up and get going, accomplishing the task without delay? Or are you a procrastinator, finding other things to do, delaying doing the task in as many ways as possible?

Sometimes our delay is due to the nature of the task: it may be distasteful or difficult. It may require us to admit our faults or change our ways. It is hard for us to do things that might require a change in direction. But just because it is difficult, it may be necessary in order for us to make forward progress.

We need to admit to ourselves when change is necessary that waiting is not the answer. We need to dive in and get it done. We need to move ahead and not delay. Only then will we see the changes we know will lead us to a better more fulfilled life. Get up and get going! God is with you, leading you to that new life.

Lord, stop our procrastinating spirit that keeps us from doing your will. Move us to get going. Amen. 

Deuteronomy 30:16   ¹⁶ If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.

Why should we obey the commandments of the Lord? The scriptures tell us it is in order to receive God’s blessing. How do those blessings come? Are they simply special blessings that miraculously appear? Or could it be that when we follow the principles God has commanded that we will live lives that will be a blessing not only to us but to all those we encounter.

Living by Biblical principles requires treating others with respect: treating others as we would want to be treated. It is forgiving others when they make mistakes, even hurtful ones, because we would hope to be forgiven. It means asking for forgiveness when we do something hurtful to others, because we would like to receive apologies. It means avoiding those situations that would cause us to hurt others. It means a life of worshipful, loving, serving, compassion. When we live this kind of life, we will most certainly be blessed.

O Lord, help us to live by your commandments so that we might be blessed by them. Amen.

1 Kings 9:4-5  ⁴ As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my ordinances,  ⁵ then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David, saying, ‘There shall not fail you a successor on the throne of Israel.’

When we surround ourselves with faithful people they become examples in how to live a life of faith. We see them as they pray. We go with them to worship. We listen as they read their Bibles. Their Bibles are well-worn from constant use: verses are underlined, words are written in the margins, and pages of devotionals are inserted here and there that give inspiration. We watch as they live out the faith they have learned in those pages. They are people of integrity that we can emulate.

We can be this example to others as well. We need to be faithful followers of Jesus. We don’t know who is watching us as we practice our faith. We should live as though someone is always watching, listening, and imitating us. Be an encourager and an example so that others may learn of faithful living and pass it on to the next generation.

Lord, we thank you for those who have been examples of faithful living in our lives. Help us be good examples of faith to others. Amen.

1 John 1:6-7   ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; ⁷ but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

We cannot make the changes we need to make in our lives if we continue to do those things we know will hinder our progress. If we keep doing those things we know to be bad for us we end up going backward. We lose ground and may even give up hope.

It is necessary for us to commit completely to the new lifestyle we say we are embracing. We need to turn away from the activities we know will harm us and take on those activities that keep us moving forward. This is a day-by-day and for some a minute-by-minute process. We must be mindful of those things that might tempt us to go astray and reject them at every turn.

In faith as in life we engage in the process of turning away and turning towards. We must be diligent to turn away from the darkness of living in a way that we know is not God’s way. Just as diligently, we must turn toward the light of Christ. He will lead us on the path to wholeness and freedom.

Lord, help us to keep turning away from those things that harm us and toward your light. Amen.

Isaiah 41:3-4  ³ He pursues them and passes on safely, scarcely touching the path with his feet.  ⁴ Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am first, and will be with the last.

So often we feel like we must reach out to God before he reaches out to us. We feel like we are the ones who need to make first contact. We believe that God will only come when we call out and he happens to hear us.

But God pursues us. God is always there, letting us know that he wants to be with us. We have only to listen for his voice. We have only to open our eyes to see him acting on our behalf. We have only to be aware of his touch as he lifts us up and holds us in his arms.

The reason God is there when we call is because he never leaves us. God moves swiftly in front of us and behind us. God prepares our way and follows to protect us on the path. God stands beside us and carries us when we are weak. God gives us the strength to face whatever may come our way.

We must be aware of God’s presence. We must open our ears, eyes, and hearts to experience his constant presence with us. God walks with us on our path.

Lord, it is hard for us to understand how much you love us. Open up our ears, eyes, and hearts to become aware of your presence. Amen.

Proverbs 20:24  ²⁴ All our steps are ordered by the LORD; how then can we understand our own ways?

When we walk in faith we put our trust in the Lord. We surrender our wills to his control and we ask him to guide our steps. What does this mean for daily living?

Each day should begin in time with the Lord. We spend time in prayer, opening ourselves up to his leading. We thank God for being in our lives. We remember his faithfulness in the past. We bring our concerns before him in confidence that he does hear and will respond. Then we wait, we listen, and we meditate on him. Prayer is not simply a one way conversation where we do all the talking. We need to spend time listening as well. We must allow our spirits to be quiet so that his Spirit may speak to us.

Each day should include time with God’s word. As we read the word of God, we remember God’s faithfulness to us throughout the ages. We remember the covenant God has made with us. We learn how we keep this covenant with him by following God’s precepts and keeping his commandments. We learn how to live in unity with others and to be living witnesses of God’s love. As we spend more time with God, his ways become our ways.

O Lord, help us to surrender ourselves to you. Prompt us to spend the time we need to walk in your ways. Amen.

Psalm 119:45  ⁴⁵ I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

Sometimes we feel that keeping all the rules limits us. We are not free to do what we want. We can’t enjoy ourselves. We can’t have fun. We are stuck doing only the things we should do. We try to find ways to cheat and think we have gotten away with it. We feel like the cheating is an expression of our freedom.

God tells us that it is only when we keep his precepts that we are truly free. We escape the bondage we experience in sin. We are deluded into thinking that we are free when we do things we shouldn’t, but in fact we are imprisoned more by those actions than by doing right.

A sinful life is one in which relationships are broken and lives are hurt. Even little cheats hurt us. We feel guilt rather than joy. We know that we cannot take it back and lose the opportunity to stay on the right track. It may take us a long time to get back on the path.

God can transform our thinking and let us see that we are only truly free when we walk in his paths and follow his ways.

O Lord, make us free. Set us on the right path so that we can walk at liberty. Amen.

Psalm 25:4-5  ⁴ Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.  ⁵ Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.

Learning to make right choices takes time. It is helped along by listening to those who have gone before us. We learn from their wisdom. We watch the way they live their lives and try to copy it in our own.

We have the wisdom of the ages available to us in our relationship with our Lord. He goes before us on the path of faith. He shows us the right way to go. He gives us the wisdom to make right choices each step of the way.

If we put our trust in God and listen to His voice He will lead us forward in truth. We must only wait for Him.

Make us to know your ways, O Lord, teach us your paths. Lead us in your truth, and teach us, for you are the God of our salvation; for you we wait all day long. Amen.

Psalm 89:15-16   ¹⁵ Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance;  ¹⁶ they exult in your name all day long, and extol your righteousness.

Keeping a positive attitude is key to being successful in making changes to our lives. If we believe that we can be successful, we will look at hindrances as mere bumps in the road instead of road blocks. We will see failures as learning opportunities instead of reasons to quit.

When we walk with the Lord we have every reason to be not only positive, but even exuberant about life. God loves us. Jesus walks with us. The Spirit guides our steps. Our poor choices are met with forgiveness and steadfast love. We are given second, third, fourth chances, and many more.

We have no reason to fear. We can feel joy in the midst of the struggle. We know we are not forgotten or forsaken. We are not alone. God walks with us wherever we go and leads us on the path of righteousness, truth, and life.

O Lord, we are joyful in the knowledge that you love us. Help us walk in your love, praising your name. Amen.