STOP LOOK AND LISTEN
- Key Verse
- "Trust in the Lord..." (Psalm 37:3a)
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..." (Psalm 37:7a)
"If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37: 23-24)
"Wait for the Lord and keep his way." (Psalm 37:34a) 
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
Trusting in the Lord is a day by day, minute by minute way of life. As we go through life there will be times of waiting for guidance, but we should know that He will guide our steps as we go.
Reflections
Wow, what a loaded passage. It's really difficult to pick one key verse out when your mind is going 900 mph reading this. Right?
So I always come back to “Be still and wait for the Lord." It seems that no matter what I'm trying to do for the Lord: quiet time, preparing for a REALife group lesson or just in daily life activities, I get easily distracted from what I am trying to do. "Be still and wait." The benefit of being still and waiting is that when you begin to take steps, God will be guiding you.
My wife and I celebrated our 15th anniversary in Lake Tahoe. It is truly one of God’s greatest views. We decided we would ride a gondola to the top of the mountain and hike down. The brochure made it sound like this pleasant, not very difficult, hike. After the first two hours we realized that was not the case. We had to carefully place our feet so we did not slide down, and the markers for the trail were often times difficult to discern. We found ourselves wondering if we were going in the right direction. It was not an easy or pleasant experience.
This is what I feel the psalmist telling us: if we seek after God and pursue righteousness, He will make our steps firm - it will not be a slippery slope. The man whose way delights the Lord will find the path, the course of his life, clearly marked. There's no need to worry about or be envious of the ways of the wicked, we only need to find the path that pleases God. To desire a path like the wicked will only lead to an undesirable destination.
This is not to say we will not stumble, we will. The day after receiving this passage as my writing assignment, I was laid off, but I knew this would not be a permanent fall, because God tells me His hand will uphold me. I have learned to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (v. 7a).
Discussion Questions
1. What area of your life do you have the hardest time waiting on the Lord for, or in reality, don't even listen to Him at all? Take some time to think and pray about this area of your life and why you won't let God have control.
2. What steps do you need to take in order to give control of this area of your life over to God?3. Do you have someone in your life to encourage you to let God take control of this area of your life?
Trae Vacek
February 22, 2010 05:36 AM
Great reminder! Thanks Mark!
Chip Smith
February 22, 2010 05:58 AM
Dude! You are so right about this Psalm. It is really loaded! I could camp here for the next month! If this was my log, I wouldn't even know where to start. You have done an excellent job, Mark. I have been on one of those "easy" hikes back down a mountain side. Zero fun, huh? Often, I have expected God's path to be just like the one in the brochure only to find out it to be longer than I expected and more difficult. Even as I read this log, I realize I am, in fact, on one of those paths right now. In the past, I have at times, decided I knew a better way, which was disastrous. Thank you for reminding me this morning to be patient and wait upon the LORD to guide me through.
Tim Hawks
February 22, 2010 07:40 AM
Thanks Mark, for the visual of the slippery and confusing path. Following God seems easy at first. But, a few yards down the path we realize the need to trust Him, wait on Him, and expect the Greater Reward!
Jennifer Smith
February 22, 2010 08:23 AM
Two phrases stand out to me in this passage: "Delight yourself in the Lord" and "Commit your way to the Lord." I think if I do this, I won't be spending my time worrying about what everyone else is doing. Thanks for your devo and the great illustration of the slippery slope!
David Redding
February 22, 2010 08:34 AM
Mark, great job bro. Thanks for your transparency and testamony of how you are actually trusting in God during a difficult situation - it is an encouragement to me. Blessings!
Mark Sutton
February 22, 2010 08:35 AM
Praise the Lord. "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm..." What a reminder of where I need to be focused, on the Lord.
Ron Hunt
February 22, 2010 11:41 AM
Mark, great job of hitting this right on the mark. My challenge is always waiting...waiting to long to ask...waiting on God's right answer...and then waiting to long to thank God for His caring and loving instructions to me. Mark, your faithfulness is an encouragement to me!
CJ
June 21, 2010 12:13 PM
Few verses which stood out to me as I read this passage many times 1. Do not Fret 2. Commit thy ways to the Lord 3. Trust in the Lord and do good.