Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:165‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It’s tempting to wake up and proclaim a declaration: that I will wait on God’s guidance in every move I make – that I may not turn to the right or to the left, but walk exactly on the path He’s called me to from before time began. It’s a noble feat…but it’s incomplete and misdirected. Our focus is on us, not God. And in approaching every day like this, we’re limiting both God and His word.

We’re limiting God in His all-powerful abilities by placing too much agency on ourselves. In other words, we’re giving ourselves too much credit. His purposes don’t depend on me – if I neglect obedience, God will use a mule to speak for me. Furthermore, we’re forgetting His sovereignty; and that what man meant for evil, God uses for good. Thank You, Lord. 

We’re also limiting the power and depth of His word. In many situations, if we just knew His word, we would know which direction to take. For example, once our hearts know the guidelines of godly wisdom laid out for us in James 3:17, we then have a solid standard of measurement for many decisions. 

But if you’re in a situation where you really need to wait on God, then you really need His word all the more. Because in the waiting, the enemy has time and space to creep in and speak. And if we’re not meditating solely on God’s word, we become unsure of who’s voice we hear. 

My point? Seeking God’s will both overall and in the day to day is impossible without regular reading and meditation on God’s word. For it is by His word that we fall deeply in love with Him. Find a translation that speaks to you and make it a daily habit. As C.S. Lewis so eloquently once said, 

“Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” 

(Mere Christianity)

Being in love with God means being in love with His word. In order to make that happen, just begin reading! And the more you read God’s word, the more you will presently come to love Him. 

Thank you, Lord, for your word. Give us faith to take you at your word and to believe and walk in the promises you’ve given us. Increase our hunger and thirst for You, and give us the discipline to set aside time each day with You. We love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.