Thought for the Day – November 11, 2009

Text: Psalm 17:3-5

3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

4 As for the deeds of men—
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.  NIV

No slippage.  Holding on.  Staying steady.  Sounds easy.  Reality, one of the most difficult things in life.  Staying on the path for a short time – almost anyone can do that.  You can fake it.  You can tough it out.  You can pull together fragments of discipline.  The long haul shows the true colors.  When I counsel people about behavioral change, I look for sustainable patterns a year out.  If you are still on the same path in a year, you are probably on the way to real change.

This is a prayer of David.  He had a heart for God.  This psalm was written before his real screw ups.  David needed to follow his own prayer.  Three steps to sustainable obedience to the LORD.  One, evaluation and testing.  An invitation to probing, testing and evaluation keeps our lives transparent and clear.  Second, keep your association with others positive.  If you want to grow in Christ, be intentional about the company you keep, especially those who will challenge and encourage you.  Third, you need to know the Word to follow the Word.  Every day the Word of God keeps me on track, steady, and strong.  By practicing these three disciplines; evaluation, association, and absorption of the Word, your feet will rarely slip.  If they do, our Father remains ready to catch you.

Real change comes real work.  Lasting change comes from long work.  Let others evaluate you.  Let your association lift you.  Let the Word of God transform you.

Thought for the Day – The feet of those following the path of God do not slip.