Psalm 37;23 (KJV)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
Philippians 4;13 (KJV)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
John 15;5 (KJV)
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
*Please, grab a pencil and paper*
The scripture reads as follows: The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
Without wasting your time with a lot of flowery words and statements, let me get right to the presentation. I begin with a question. Have you, when reading this scripture, ever pictured yourself as "the good man"? No?! Okay, re-read the scripture again, this time insert your name in place of "the good man". Serious!! Now, take the time to allow that to settle within yourself......
(The steps of Brova Stokes are ordered by the Lord: and I delighteth in my way.)
This is a quick move. Go back and write your name down, and right next to it write 'good man' (for my Siszas you already know to write down 'good woman'). Quickly, again, capture that mental thought of yourself.... as the 'good man/woman'. How did you see yourself as you thought about the association? Write that down. If you need to re-read the scripture again in order to perform the task, do so at this time. It is important that you perform this exercise.
At this junction of the presentation, I will give to you the Hebrew's understanding of that word "ordered". This is because the scripture states that, the 'steps' of the good man ARE ordered.... It is the Lord which has control and gives the orders.
Ordered-- In the Hebrew: kuwn (koon); To be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence to set up, in a great variety of applications, literally (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figuratively (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous)-: certain(ly), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make)preparation, prepare(self), provide, make provision, (be, made)ready, right, set(aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry (x) very deed.
A GREAT VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS!!!!!! That is an understatement. LOL. But, if you pull yourself to the many different ways (literally and figuratively) we can "step", you will see all the ways the Lord orders. Oh Hallelujah!!!!! Thank you Lord!!!!! Forgive me, I just thought about how I used to walk; when I was outside of the will of God. Thank you for Christ Jesus!!!!
*Alright, write down where you have been 'stepping' lately*
Moving on. Here are the other scriptures, offered as a co-mingled, stacked, supportive, foundation to the scripture of use. They are offered to show that when the 'good man/woman's steps' are ordered, that same good man/woman will have the understanding to delight in the direction he will travel. HAHAHAHA!!!! Something pushed me to pray for these next steps I am about to take in this New Year. Hallelujah!!!! Oh!!! The joy that is on me at this very moment!!!!!
*Write down your 'desired' steps for the New Year*
Philippians 4; 13 reads as follows: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Of course this particular scripture comes at the end of a certain section of the epistle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi. What is resting in it to be the support to the verse in Psalm 37 is that Paul expresses, for us to gather up, no matter what I am 'ordered' to do, I can do it because it is really Christ that give me the strength to get it done. Look at the way Paul phrases his sentence, "through Christ which strengtheneth me". He uses the word 'which'. I bet there is an English major reading this, (probably red marking up this presentation) and, smiling. There is a major difference to a sentence when you utilize prepositions, and adverbs in such a way to give weight to one person or item, as apposed to the other. What I am saying is that when we read that sentence, our natural tendency is to say, "who strengtheneth me". We desire to place all the weight on Christ Jesus. To a degree we are right but, what Paul shows us is that the Power does come from Christ and we are right to acknowledge that it comes from Him. What we cannot overlook is that we are the ones taking the step. I hope you see this. It is very subtle and can be missed, by us, because we utterly desire to go back and say to Christ, "If you had just showed me that I wasn't suppose to go there."
I am willing to submit that He did show you, not only that but, ORDERED you to go the other way and GAVE to you the strength to make the STEP in that other direction. WOO!!!!! HERE IT COMES!!!!! Why didn't you make that turn? Why do you harbor that guilt about not making that turn? Do I need to go further? I bet you sitting at the computer, right now, saying to yourself, "That other scripture is so not needed. I know it." Nope!!! You need it!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!
John 15;5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (Italicized, bold, and underlined by Brova for emphasis)
*Write Jesus over the top of those desired steps for the New Year*
Take a small break from reading to lock into your mental that this scripture is that of John transcribing what Christ Jesus said. Again, this is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ making this statement........
Ready?
You are the branch: The part that sticks out and hangs on. The part that, if blessed to do so, will show forth the bloom of a flower or fruit. The part that will be exposed to all the hazards of the elements. The part that can be discarded, if necessary, and cast into the fire, trash, or dog's mouth as a toy.
The branch also can be valued. The branch can be pruned back, in order to bring in a better grouping of flowers or fruit. The branch can be valued and transplanted to begin again. The branch can have itself judged as sturdy enough to bear the weight of rope, tire, and endless summers of children's joy.
How is all that possible?
Christ Jesus is the vine: The source of the branches life. The place of all nutrients. The seat of what will remember how many flowers or how much fruit the branch produced in the past. The sometimes unseen, but never forgotten part that holds all value. If it were not for the vine..... Better yet, if all branches were to be cut away from the vine, that vine WILL grow new branches. If that vine is cut down, no branch can survive. That simple.
Christ goes even deeper and states, "He that abideth in me, and I in him...." That right there I should not have to comment on. As a matter of fact, I will not. I ask that you comment. Yes, you can. Tell Christ, me, and the others that read, exactly what this portion of Christ's statement is telling you.
*Write down, on the paper; for yourself, when you knew you didn't abide*
We can see that when these two scriptures, Philippians 4;13 and John 15;5, are mixed together; to form the foundation of the verse in Psalm, we see that it truly is our delight to travel in the way that Christ orders. I mean, all that is necessary for us to maintain is that it is Him that gives strength to our ability to step and as we continue to abide in Him, we can take that given strength to make the step in the ordered direction. Nothing is simpler. Please, do not over complicate your walk. As a Pastor once informed me, "If you will only be given enough strength to make one step.... make that one step, and then await for instructions on the next step. For Christ will strengthen you to stay ready for the next step, while you wait too." My Brothers and Sisters, we are nothing more than His children; to perform in the way He would desire us to perform. Our duty is to fall into place; as children would; for their Father. So let us begin to or continue to step in the right direction.
Holla,
Yer Brova Catalyst
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