To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; 2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.  4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

In the opening verses the Psalmist declares his trust in God. This trust is confirmed when he asks God to guide and teach him the right paths for his life. He not only was willing to say he depended on God but was willing to listen to his word and follow his will. Too often today we are inclined to verbally trust in God. We may even openly declare our faith in him in many ways. But the real test of faith is our willingness to be obedient to him.

Remember the story of Abraham when told to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. What a test! God had not given him this son until he was 100 years old. You talk about a life wrapped up in a child – this was it. Now God said to go and kill him. Common sense would have caused doubt. Good judgment would have said don’t do it. Theological consistency (can’t offer human sacrifice) would have proven that it should not be done. Abraham acted on faith. God said to do this. God said that Isaac would become the father of a great nation. God gave him to me after the normal years of child bearing for my wife. So if I kill him, God will raise him back from the dead and give him to me again. So, without an argument or hesitation, Abraham got up early the next morning and started the three day trip to the mountain that God had appointed to offer his son as a sacrifice. In his obedience it is said that his faith was counted to him as righteousness.

While God does not tell us to offer our son or daughter as a sacrifice, he does tell us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. We are told to crucify the flesh and its desires so that we can walk by the Spirit. This is faith.

O God, please increase my faith today so that I will actually do your will. Give me wisdom to understand how to apply it in my life. Help me be more diligent in studying your word so that I will know it. I ask you’re blessing on those who are hurting and need you in their lives in a special way. Help me to be available to be used in your service to be an encouragement and strength to those in need. Help me to see each opportunity of service and to take advantage of it by doing your will. I pray in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we demonstrate our faith in obedience.