Make Thy Way Straight Before My Face.

 

JANUARY 18
 
Make thy way straight before my face.
 Psalm 5:4

 

The true Christian desires to be ruled by God's word,
  and guided by God's Providence.
 
He wishes to be what God requires;
  to do what God commands; and
  to go where God directs.
 
But he is often in great difficulty;
  he cannot see the way;
  he is uncertain of what course he should take; and
  his cried is, “Make my way straight before my face.”
 
Let me see the way thou hast marked out;
  and walk in the path which will be pleasing in thy sight.
 
The Lord will sometimes have us wait at his door,
     plead at his throne, and
  learn that the way of man 

      is not in himself,
  that it is not in man 

      that walketh to direct his steps.
 
To wait the Lord’s time requires patience;
   and a walk in the Lord’s way,
       requires submission.
 
The Lord's way generally crosses
  the desires of flesh and blood,
  modifies our pride and independence,
   exercises all the graces of the Holy Spirit, and
   makes us feel our absolute dependence on Divine grace.
 
Still the Christian when he is right mind, prefers it;
  and would rather walk in it than in any other.
 
God's way leads us to glory, honor, and immortality.
 
How rough soe’er the way,
Dear Saviour, still lead on;
Nor leave us till we say,
  “Father, thy will be done.”
At most we do but taste the cup,
For thou alone hast drunk it up.
 
James Smith 1849