Teach Me, Lord

Chuckle: A man asked the pharmacist for a cure for the hiccups. The pharmacist reached out and slapped him across the face. "What'd you do that for?' asked the man angrily. "Well, you don't have the hiccups anymore, do you?" "No," replied the man, "but my wife out in the car still does!"

Quote: "Value a friend who, for you, finds time on his calendar -- but cherish the friend who, for you, does not even consult his calendar."

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground (Psalm 143:10 NASB).

Each time we establish new relationships and make new friends, there are a lot of uncertainties involved. What will he/she expect of me? Can I live up to those expectations? What will it take to please the other person and help to nurture the relationship? Will my new friend really care about me? Initially, a lot of guesswork is involved in learning what it takes to please the other person and to make the relationship become what you want it to be. We often leave ourselves vulnerable to hurt and disappointment if the relationship doesn't work out.

However, there is no guesswork when you establish a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. You never have to worry about not knowing what God wants from His relationship with you. His Word, as illuminated by His Holy Spirit, lays it all out in clear and understandable terms. God wants an intimate love relationship with us because He loves us unconditionally. In our passage, the Psalmist asked God to teach him exactly what His will was for their relationship. He wanted God to teach him how to know and understand His will -- how to please Him.

When our relationships with other people are based on unconditional love, those relationships have a great chance of becoming strong and long-lasting. But with the kind of love that God has for us, He will never leave us guessing and He will never be the one to break the relationship or interrupt the fellowship with us that He desires. The prayer of the psalmist is a good one for us. "May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14 NLT).

These words from Micah 6:8 provide a great summary of what God expects from His relationship with His people. "And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly (do what is right) and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." In our efforts to please God, we should examine these areas of our lives regularly.

Love, Jerry & Dotse