Today’s Scripture: Psalm 143:10, NKJV- “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.”
God teaches us to see the world differently. In the light of God’s will we find new lands. Psalm 143 has only twelve verses and they are very instructive. Celebrate Recovery uses Psalm 143:10 in two different lessons to teach us how to deal with our hurts, habits, and hangups.
In the third step and lesson six, the C in the acrostic for ACTION instructs us to commit ourselves to seek and follow God’s will. It also defines willpower as: “Willpower is the willingness to accept God’s power.” James Baker made the point that there is no room for God if we are full of ourselves.
How successful are we in breaking our cycles with our own willpower? Almost every recovery fails when we seek our own willpower. However when we turn our attention away from whatever has a grip on us to ask God to teach us His will our gaze is now upon God and not our struggles. His Spirit is good and leads us to where He desires for us to be.
Also in step six in lesson fourteen of CR entitled Ready we find that the R in this acrostic stands for Release control. We must become entirely ready and willing to let God into every area of our lives. As lesson fourteen points out, willingness is the key that goes into the lock and opens the door that allows God to begin to teach us and remove our character defects.
I have found that David also provided us with a step program here in Psalm 143.
Step 1: Pray. Psalm 143:1, NKJV- “A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness.
Step 2: Read God’s Word. Psalm 143:5, NIV- “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” God’s Word provides the memories and works of what God has done.
Step 3: Pause and take time to praise God. Psalm 143:6, NKJV- “I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah” “Selah” in Psalms 143, and throughout the Psalms, is interpreted as a musical cue indicating a pause, a moment of reflection, or a change in the music, meaning “pause here and contemplate.” We must also thirst for God’s teachings.
Step 4: Begin your day with Morning “quiet time” with God. Psalm 143:8, NKJV- “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.” Are we too busy for God to rise early and lift our soul up to Him? Just as Jesus did, these times before sunrise “causes us to know the way we should walk.”
Step 5: Find safety in God. Psalm 143:9, NKJV- “Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.” God is our safe place where can take shelter in His love for us.
Step 6: Ask God to teach us. Psalm 143:10, NKJV- “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” Our minds are deceptive so we must welcome God’s teaching and Spirit to guide us.
Step 7: Trust God to bring our souls out of trouble. Psalm 143:11, NKJV- “Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.” God is the source of our revival.
Step 8: Serve God. Psalm 143:12, NKJV- “In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant.” When we look to serve God, we find ourselves teaching and serving others with what He as taught us in our times with Him.
Will you ask God to teach you?
Today’s prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching us. We pause now to remember all that You have done for us. We praise You and claim that You are our God. Our souls do thirst for You LORD. Thank You LORD for welcoming us into Your presence and for providing us with safety. We trust You to bring our souls to where You desire us to be. Teach us LORD Your will and how we may serve You. Amen.
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