Show Me Your Ways

One of the first Bible studies I ever did, I did on my own. I was a new believer, hungry to learn Scripture, and drove to a Christian bookstore near me when I was living in Atlanta, Georgia. I remember vividly walking up to an employee and saying, “I need to learn the Bible…I’m behind.” She smiled and then pointed me to a study on the Old Testament. I didn’t care where I started. I just knew I needed to start.

As I worked my way through that workbook, I came across a passage in Exodus 33:13: Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way that I may know You, and that I may find grace in Your sight; and consider that this nation is Your people.

I can’t fully explain it, but the moment I read those specific words, they were immediately engraved upon my heart. I knew them instantly, by heart, and they became my personal prayer from that day forward…even to today.

“Show me Your ways, O Lord” ...That’s all I wanted, and still want. I want to know Him.

Teach Me Your Paths

Then it went a step further when I came across Psalm 25. David is appealing to God to move more directly in his life, to help him become conformed to the character of God.

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I will wait all the day (vv. 4–5).

I remember reading that and thinking, “Yes, Lord, add that too. I don’t just want to know You…I want You to teach me.”

The Apostle John tells us that believers have an anointing from the Holy One, an anointing that teaches us concerning all things (1 John 2:20, 27). So why wouldn’t we ask to be taught His paths? And by path, that Hebrew word carries the idea of “way, course, conduct, a manner.”

I don’t want the course of this age. I don’t want the broad path the world is walking down. I want the old paths, where the good way is (Jeremiah 6:16), and I want to walk in them. I want the narrow gate and the difficult path Jesus spoke of, even knowing it’s hard, even knowing few find it (Matthew 7:13–14).

I want to walk in the way, the course, the conduct, the manner, that God Himself has laid out.

Lead Me In Your Truth

And then, I want Him to lead me in His truth. That word implies treading down, guiding, threshing. It’s a purposeful pressure exerted by the foot. In Scripture it is applied to treading ground or pressing or trampling grapes. That’s what His word does! That’s what His truth does. It forms the path we are to follow.

He leads us in His truth, by His Word and by His Spirt, the Spirit of truth:

• Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).

• As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him (Psalm 18:30).

• Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away (Matt. 24:35).

• The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130).

• So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Is. 55:11).

• If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7).

• If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him (John 14:15-17).

Prayer

As I think back on this prayer that I’ve been praying for almost twenty-five years now, I am in awe of how faithfully God has been answering it. He shows me His ways and leads me on His path through His word. He reveals Himself to me through His names, and things like His appointed feasts, and Israel. He shows me His ways through His Son Jesus, and truth by His Spirit. One day at a time. One step at a time. He is always faithful.

And this is an important reminder for us. We find ourselves living in a pluralistic society, and in a society like that, the exclusivity of Christ is being diminished…not denied…but diminished. The need for truth, and the narrow path, is great. Perhaps we start praying for God for show us His ways…His truth…His path. I believe if you start praying a prayer like that, you’ll be deeply blessed at what He begins to show you.

Now therefore I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your site, and consider that this nation is filled with Your people. Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I will wait all day. Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your way is perfect; Your word is proven. Your word shall not return to You void, but shall accomplish what You please, and prosper in the thing for which You send it. Please work out Your will in me so that I do what pleases You, not what please man. Help me to keep Your commandments and may Your Spirit, that abides with me forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, lead me into all truth.

God Bless You,

Carole