O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.—Jeremiah 10:23
This morning as I read this verse my eyes filled with tears of gratitude and understanding. I didn’t sleep well last night. My day today is very full and won’t end until late this evening. Jeremiah’s words were a good reminder to this child of God who, in the midst of sleep deprivation, had also lost her perspective.
With or without sleep…in weakness or in strength…I am not capable of guiding my own life adequately. Without the Lord and His word to guide me, I walk blindly. Psalm 119:105 says this:
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
I need the lamp of the Lord to guide my feet and illuminate my path. This morning then, I am thankful for my lack of sleep because it brought me to Him…to a place of dependence but also of blessing, because only those who allow God direct their ways will be truly blessed…
Perspective obtained, I breath a sigh of relief. His gracious Spirit WILL see me through my day. He WILL go before me. My times ARE in His loving hands.
Leaving some of the corresponding verses from my Thompson Chain Reference Bible below that also helped me as I prayed through them this morning.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.—Proverbs 3:5-6
A man's heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.—Proverbs 16:9
So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace."—Genesis 41:16
Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.—Exodus 33:15
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."—2 Chronicles 20:12
I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother's womb
You have been My God.
Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.—Psalm 22:10
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.—Psalm 127:1-2
John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.—John 3:27
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.—John 15:4-5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,—2 Corinthians 3:5
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.—2 Corinthians 4:7
