May 3 – Instruct, Teach and Counsel

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;  will counsel you with My eye upon you.”  - Psalm 32:8 (NASB)

We have considered the promises Jesus made to His disciples, and by to those who would believe the Gospel through their proclaiming the good news. One promise was the Holy Spirit who was sent by God the Father in the name of God the Son. God the Holy Spirit comes to indwell all believers permanently. Through the ministry of the Spirit we receive guidance into what the truth is. Believing God and His Word is absolutely essential to receive this guidance.  We need the Holy Spirit to understand even this truth. Looking back many centuries before the Holy Spirit was given to us, King David declared the same promise from God in today’s verse. God promised David that He would instruct the King in the way he should go. Council from God was given to David and it is promised for us as well.  God watches over us and all those who are His. He has His eye on us.  He knows everything about us. He is intimately acquainted with all our ways and knows what we need. He knows when we go out and when we come in. Today trust our Lord God to do what He promised and live accordingly.

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February 8 – Worried About Decisions

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”  - Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

Are important decisions difficult to make because we fret and worry if we are making the right decision?  What are we deciding?  A change of jobs?  A move? A relationship? Or maybe a family decision for our parents or children? We worry if we are making the right decision.  Not knowing the future is a common source of worry.  Without help many of us use the flying dart method, or maybe the ever trustworthy “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe.”  Some of us may seek counseling or advice from others.  Our promise from God in today’s verse assures us that if we rely on Him, looking and listening for His guidance, He will provide the counsel we need.  He will instruct and teach us the way He wants us to go.  Fretting over a decision is a waste of time. Not knowing the future is why we fret and worry.  If only we could know exactly the result of our decisions, we might not be so worried.  God has promised us the help we need even though we will never know the outcome before its time.  

 Next: Worrying over the opposition.

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March 3 – Watching With Love

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”   Psalm 32:8 (ESV)

The promises found in this Psalm are timeless.  Composed by David as were many of the Psalms we have in our Bible, these promises can be trusted as given to us for today.  God promises to instruct us and teach us what the right way to live is.  It is an ongoing process.  We know that God is watching over our lives and is closely involved in all the events that guide us even in our thoughts as well as activities each day.  Yes, we believe that when we look to our God for guidance He will teach us how to live.  We have many decisions to make each day and our God will help us to decide in the best way each time, if we are open to learn from Him.  Let's keep in mind each day that our loving Lord has His eye upon us and the reason is, He is always ready to help us do what is right.  

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February 22 – Instruct, Teach, Council with Love

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”  Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

This Psalm by David is one that records a prayer of confession David offered up to God.  The verse we look at is God's response to David's prayer of confession.  We have these promises from God also.  We can all look to God to do what He promises in this verse.   We all need His guidance and counsel every day in making small decisions and also in deciding more important things.  We need to recognize that He is watching our movements and that He has ways of letting us know which way is best each time we have to choose what to do.   He promises to instruct and teach us the way to go. Therefore, we need to be aware that our God in Heaven has His eyes upon us and that He has advice to give us when we open our hearts for Him to show us the Way He wants us to go.  

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January 6 – His Loving Eye Watching

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;  I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

Since we are still new in this year, we have selected this fitting promise from God's word.  We are all looking ahead to the new year which has begun.  We may have some questions still unanswered about how thing will go in the days and months ahead.  It seems like so much is uncertain in the world and in our countries' governments.  Whatever the situation is we can trust in the faithfulness of God for every day, every week and all through the year.  Yes, we can be sure that our Lord is with us and will be because He has promised to teach and counsel us.  He has promised to watch over us with His loving eye.  And, we can be confident that He knows what is ahead for us as He guides us with His teaching and instructions.  Trust this promise today, tomorrow and every day that comes.  

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March 14 – Same God. Same Promise

“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.” Psalm 16:7 (ESV)

We can be sure that David often realized that he didn't know all the answers. He needed God’s guidance just as we all do. He gives testimony in our verse that God was constantly guiding him. David recognized that when he needed counsel and advice, God was near him to show him the answers to his problems. And he praised God for it.  Did you notice what David said about receiving counsel at night?  Evidently he would lie awake sometimes wondering what to do for the next day about some situation or problem. He looked to God for the guidance and received it. Maybe you do that sometimes? Remember that God is near you then just as He was near David. And, He'll impress upon your heart what to do the next day. Trust him to fulfill this promise just as David did so many centuries ago. Same God, same promise. 

November 6 – Instruction and Counsel

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

David wrote this song and it includes a promise which is true to this day. The God that David worship and the God who watched over him is our God today. We truly believe that our God will keep this promise for us today. He is watching over us and he is eager that we do what is right and what is best for us. He loves us. Our verse reminds us of the promise that God is involved in teaching us in instructing us, and in counseling us. These words are all related, with slightly different meanings.  God knows just what we need every moment of the day.  His watch-care is over each of us and he supplies our needs. Friends, God knows your need for guidance today. He'll know your need every hour today. That's a promise from God.

November 6

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

We must never think that we have to live the Christian life on our own. God has promised to be with us all the way. Isn’t that what this verse tells us? God is with us all the way. He doesn’t just help us in the important decisions, once in awhile. His instruction and His guidance is available day after day, hour after hour. He is watching our every step along the way. So how do we benefit from this promise? It is by being conscious of His constant presence and watch-care. Instead of thinking that we are living our lives by ourselves, let us be aware of His constant care and listen for His voice.