Who is your counselor?

 

Psalm 37:23-24

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord uphholdeth him with his hand.

Proverbs 20:24

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 16:9

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

I am in love with this scripture as I move through a new season of decisions that are even more complex and raveled with varied outcomes. I know through this precept that only a divine word from the Lord will meet me where I am. Without being too specific, I have seen how life goes when  I have construed a plan based on my intellectual reasoning and vision versus a decision that required that I still myself in the presence of the Lord and wait. There is no comparison to be made. If we are honest, sometimes we make decisions sometimes that we have not submitted to prayer. Often those decisions have consequences that may not appear until a year or so later. This is the plan of the enemy from the beginning. He studies our lives looking for a door and he is patient. Therefore, we should be patient before the Lord.  This is why good counsel for your life is required. Only the Holy Spirit can counsel you, rather it is directly, in a dream, through a vision or a word of knowledge. The counsel of the Lord is required for every decision; those that are matters of the heart and certainly those that surround the  “issues” of life.

In these precious scriptures Solomon and his father David reveal a principle for successful living  by using the phrase “a good man.” In Psalm 37-23-24,  by David affirming  “a good man” there is inevitably also a “bad man.” There are two choices for making a decision – the way of a good man and the way of a bad man. However, a good man has his steps ordered according to the psalmist. To have your steps ordered requires your stop and reflect who is ordering my steps? Am I doing the practices of a good man?

 To be ordered by the Lord, you must know his voice. How do you discern your voice from the voice of the Lord.? There is no short cut. You must read and study the word and practice waiting in the presence of the Lord. Reading the word daily must become the most important routine of your life!!  However, studying the word is when you allow the scriptures to go deep in your heart and become oil in your lamp. Marinating over a phrase or looking up all the cross references to have a full understanding of a principle mentioned in a scripture. This is studying.  These are some of the ways of a “good man.”

David says “the good steps of a man are ordered” which means he is guiding him and leading him down the path. The scripture does not tell you that it will be easy or without battles. It does not  tell you that you will not have to put on the armor of God and fight. However, I am encouraged by this line…”though he fall he will not utterly be cast down.” Why will he not be cast down? Because the scripture asserts “for the Lord upholdeth with his hand.” This means once you have purposed in your soul (mind, will and emotions) to take the steps the Lord has told you, he will be there when you meet resistance or fall down in your pursuit. I cannot think of anyone I would rather have backing me up. For His word never fails for those walking and living in righteousness.

Proverbs 20:24

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The second scripture is always a principle for successful living. The word of God is our manual for how to live in this temporary journey. The word is true, quick, and powerful. Knowing the word is difference between life and death, success and defeat. You will always be in battles until you leave this world. The word of God reveals how to put on the mind of Christ, how to defeat the devil daily, how to inherit the promises. Without the word we walk in an artificial light, light created by man.  The light offered from the world which is full of tricksters and snares because the God of this world wants you to join him in eternal damnation.  He offers a carnal form of light. Therefore, as we plan our course we must be in communion with the Holy Spirit, for he is our counselor according to the word. Solomon states it well in Proverbs 16:9.

Proverbs 16:9

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

We come to understand righteous living through the word which allows God to reveal to us who we are in him and how to navigate this world in the natural and the spirit.  As we plan our course, in prayer and supplication he will counsel you if the course you have planned for yourself will lead to where he desires. We have to be open and submitted to his will and leading, even if it means changing your direction completely.  For the Lord knows the direction you to take to fulfill “I know the thoughts I think for your thoughts of peace and not evil to bring you to an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)

In His Service,

M