God, our guide and guard

Great Is Your Steadfast Love

A Prayer of David.

1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;
    save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
    for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
    listen to my plea for grace.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
    for you answer me.

8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come
    and worship before you, O Lord,
    and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
    a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
    and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant,
    and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
    that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
    because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Have you ever wanted God's will for your life to be as clear as a sign in the road? Just the other day, I was in a conflict with a friend, and I wanted God to stand by my side and tell me exactly what to do. In this psalm even David was praying for God to give him a sign to tell him what to do (verse 17).

The truth is, though, God just doesn't often choose to show Himself through a burning bush like He did for Moses. We have to believe in Him, call to Him, and be receptive to His response before He will answer our prayers. He doesn't tell you exactly what to do like a sign on the freeway saying, "Take this road," or "Go here." God uses His Word and His people to tell you what He is trying to say. And He often chooses to work through people.

The other thing David prays is for God to guide his heart. We all want God to be our bungee cord to save us when we jump, and He often does that. Although it doesn't seem like it sometimes, God guards our heart and gives us the strength to help us deal with our hurts. I have been through some difficult times in my life. There have been times when I have felt that God was on His coffee break and not doing His job, but He was. Everything God does is for a reason, and He is guarding our hearts 24/7. We have to believe this.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Paul is telling the people of Philippi not to be anxious about anything, but to talk to God through prayer, and God will guard their hearts. This is how we all should live. If we have faith in Jesus, we will be saved!

1. Is there something going on in your life that you need God to guide you through?

2. Have you ever felt that God is not always there to guard your heart and guide you?

3. Like David, are you waiting for a sign from God?