May 15 -Reading 43: Psalm 119:113-176

“Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.”

(Psalm 119:133)

Imagine a horse and buggy. The driver wants to get home with the least amount of time and energy. He knows the best way to accomplish that. The horse has no idea what the goal is or how to get there. He just wants to go his own way and look for water, grass, and a shady place to lay down. Without the reins and direction of the driver, the horse may never get home to the safety of the stall, to food and water, and to the pleasure of pasture in the cool of the evening.

Both we and the horse often resist the idea of reins. We think that, without reins, we will be able to get to the same destination in the same amount of time, but by taking our own path and experiencing the pleasure of our own willfulness along the way.

If we are honest, our willful ways always get us into trouble. Have they ever truly led to peace and fulfillment? Or did they lead us into heartache and heartbreak, afflictions and pains?

As we look around, our hearts break as we see the chaos and despair that result from throwing off His reins in willful rebellion. Sadly, while we as Christians know better, there are many who don’t even know “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). They have never experienced the benefits of being under His authority and His direction.

As we spend our last day in Psalm 119, May our hearts be filled with gratitude to God for His law, our reins. And may we ask Him to restore across our country an appreciation for His reins. He designed us. He alone can lead us into the way we should go. May our lives be examples to others of the blessing of embracing His reins. May we clearly demonstrate that He alone can be trusted, in the midst of the uncertainty and struggles of this life, to efficiently and effectively lead us home.