Good morning,
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down." (Ps. 37:23-24) Ordered means to set up; established "prepared" sure, certain, confirmed, directed; it carries the idea of provision being made and made right. Every one of us have made some slips or missteps as we continue on our walk with the Lord. We can be devoted to living upright and still miss it, but here the Lord has already made provision for us as we are following His steps. Steps means to advance or make movements, going on with companionship. It doesn't matter when or how we fall, as long as we are advancing toward God and the Kingdom, we are not down for the last count. Remember, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise. When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be light unto me." (Micah 7:8) We are never completely cast down so that we can't get back up again. Even our darkest places God's light can reveal and uncover the next step that we have to take. The Lord upholds us (bear us up; sustain us; support and defends; and keeps us from sinking), as we make advancement in the Kingdom. Fall is to drop suddenly and involuntarily; to enter unawares into a dangerous or undesirable state or situation; to be cast down. None of us planned to enter into trials, tests, tribulations, or troubles, they happen unawares, but God has already prepared a way for us to bear up under it and He sustains us as well. "The Lord upholds all those (of His own) who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down." (Ps. 145:14) God brings us through, we will penetrates our passage into and across from the beginning to the end of it. Raise up to move to a higher position; to lift up; to elevate; to set upright; to cause to stand up, to build up. For all of us that have believed and continue to walk on, making advances with the Lord, there is a "lifting" coming, a move to a higher position, God has been building us up for His elevation.
Our relationship and our faith has been tested but that's good because "gold" has been discovered in us. "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined." (Job 23:10) Tried; to examine, scrutinize, to test, prove, try. As long as we are committed to taking the steps, the movements, that God has planned and purposed for us, we will succeed. No matter how far we fall, it is not impossible for our God to uphold us. With our hearts fully persuaded then, let's say what God says about us, "when I fall I shall arise!" As we stay on His step – plans, God is trying, examining, testing, and proving us, making our faith become gold. So, encourage yourself with this, every step that we take in the Master's plan is going to be for our lifting and for us being moved up to a higher position!
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 