“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” (Psalm 143:8)
“Lord, have mercy” should not be an exasperated exclamation, but a heartfelt prayer that looks up to Him for real help. The help we most need is the wisdom to know how we should think and respond in any given situation. (James 1:5) We are not sufficient in ourselves to direct our own way. (Jer. 10:23) We need the good Shepherd to lead us in paths of righteousness.
It is so easy to react out of our own mind and emotions and say and do what we feel strongly or think best. But God would have us walk humbly with Him in all meekness and lowliness of mind. He would have us go slowly as we wait on Him for direction.
Don’t expect your first response to be God’s response. Learn to lift up your soul to Him, especially when you’re overwhelmed with anger, fear. or sorrow. Don’t be driven to action by strong emotions. Take your heart to the Lord and let Him regulate your passions. He must speak peace to the storm within. Our heart must return to its rest. We must take up our best position which is at His feet. Once stabilized, He would lead us more deeply into a place of prayer and from there He would give us what to say and do.
Our problem is not that we don’t know what to do, it’s that we are too forward to do what floods our own heart and mind. God does not want us to be self-sufficient. He wants us to depend upon Him with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding.
Develop the habit of seeking God at all times and in all things. We cannot find God’s way forward unless we seek it. He trains us to walk in faith, instead of our own lifted up spirit, in those times when we are willing to forsake our sight and be blind for a season. When the Lord gives us vision we can run. (Hab.2:2)
Lift up your soul to the Lord. Trust in Him. He knows the way wherein you should walk. He will give you His eyes to move forward as you give Him your ear.