WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: When have you needed a guide? Did you obey them? Ask God to guide your thoughts as you enjoy this psalm. Confident words God is great (v 1). God has shown himself (v 3). This God is our God (v 14). These are confident words. When things are going well (vs 4–7) we are, hopefully, ready to give God the glory and rejoice in him. When our guide is leading us in pleasant places it is easy to be trusting and obedient. Staying with our guide But the Bible warns us many times of being careful to stay with our guide (Deuteronomy 8:1). In the story of the nation of Israel it seemed they wandered away from God whenever things started going well for them (eg Judges 2:12). Even King Solomon, who built the temple, abandoned God (1 Kings 11:4) and so lost God’s blessing. Leaving our guide in the good times is a problem. Just as bad is abandoning him when we face troubles, doubts and fears. This is when we need to build on the trust we should have learnt in the good times. Respond: Walk around ‘the city of your life’ and consider what God has done for you. Meditate on his unfailing love (v 9). Can you say, ‘This God is our God … even to the end’ (v 14)? Share your fears and joys with him. Then share a story of the goodness of your Guide with someone from the next generation (v 13). http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-12-16