I’ve been thinking about this year and the plans that the Lord has on the drawing board for me and for you. I understand clearly that He has a plan for me, I also understand that He can’t “download” the plan into my spirit, and ultimately, my life if I am not ready to receive it and walk in it. And that’s why I like thinking about His plans as being on a drawing board. He can adapt them to my hunger and thirst for more of Him.
As I’ve thought about this year, the song “Order My Steps In Your Word” has been on repeat in my mind. The song opens with “Order my steps in your word, dear Lord. Lead me, guide me every day, and send your anointing Father I pray. Order my steps in your word. Please order my steps in your word.”
The song is based on Psalm 119:133 – “Order my steps in Thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Let’s look at the first part of this verse for a moment.
Order
The word means “to set up, to make firm, to establish, to prepare.” Its primary action is to cause the person to stand in an upright position and indicates being fixed or steadfast.
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8)
When we allow God’s Word to order our steps and we willingly live in complete obedience to His Word, our lives are going to reflect Him and His goodness. When we allow God to order our steps through His Word, we will be able to say what Jesus said in John 8:32, “And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.”
Step
The word indicates “time or occurrence” and implies a repeated action.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
We must seek God’s Word to find them. The more we make His Word a priority in our lives – the more steps we take because of His Word – the more His Word will be established – will be ordered – in our lives.
Word
This noun occurs more in Psalm 119 than everywhere else combined. It is used in parallel with teaching, covenant, commandment, and voice. It most often designates God’s Word.
(1) Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of My mouth. (2) My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: (Deuteronomy 32:1-2)
“My tongue shall speak of Thy word: for all Thy commandments are righteousness.” (Psalm 119:172)
“Give ye ear, and hear My voice; hearken, and hear My speech.” (Isaiah 28:23)
Let’s see what God Himself says about His Word in Psalm 138.
(1) I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. (2) I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:1-2)
When our steps, our lives are ordered by His Word, we will see His Word with the same reverence and awe that we see God Himself.
God orders our steps when we yield to His Word.
Having our steps ordered by God starts with a willingness to renew our minds to what the Bible says (Romans 12:2) and having a lifestyle of yielding to our new man (Romans 2:13-15).
One of the greatest examples of yielding in Scripture is found in Luke 1 when Gabriel tells Mary that she is pregnant with Jesus. Since she was a virgin, she was somewhat confused as to how this could happen. After Gabriel explains the how, Mary simply says in verse 38 “be it unto me according to thy word.”
If I am to order my steps based on His Word more in 2024, my response to His Word has to the same as Mary’s – “be it unto me.”
“Be it unto me” confessions
In 2024, I will order my steps with His word.
? Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, I get up every morning with praise and worship on my lips and thanksgiving in my heart because My Father has made another day in which I will rejoice and be glad that I belong to Him.
? Psalm 25:4-5 – 4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. (5) Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, I am more humble and more teachable as I eagerly seek His heart for my life.
? Acts 27:23 – “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.”
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, I remember my Father owns me and I will serve Him and I will worship Him with a joyful heart.
? Romans 4:20-21 – (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, that I am fully persuaded – living in boundless faith – that what My Father says My Father will do.
? Psalm 27:1 – “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, fear has no place in my life because I have a Father who delivers and a Father who gives me life.
? Philippians 4:6-7 – (6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, I will refuse to allow myself to get anxious or fearful about anything. My emotions will not lead me. Instead, I will allow the peace of God to govern how my heart responds in every situation.
? Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, my Father is pleased with what I say because what I say comes from a heart that meditates in His Word.
? Philippians 4:11, 13 – (11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. … (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, I will become more content in life because I will know and understand that the circumstances are not relevant in the face of God’s truth. I will confess that I will endure it all because I can do all things through the strength Jesus has given to me.
? Colossians 1:12-13 – (12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, I will remember that my Father has given me an inheritance that includes deliverance from Satan and the authority that he no longer has in my life.
? Psalm 63:1 – “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”
I confess and proclaim that in 2024, I long for the heart of my God like ground that is dry and thirsty for longs for fresh running water.
In 2024, my steps are ordered in your word because I will –
? Psalm 119:15 – “I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.”
? Psalm 119:16 – “I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.”
? Psalm 119:32 – “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”
? Psalm 119:45 – “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.”
? Psalm 119:46 – “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.”
? Psalm 119:47 – “And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.”
? Psalm 119:69 – “The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.”
? Psalm 119:93 – “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.”
? Psalm 119:106 – “I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.”
? Psalm 119:117 – “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.”
? Psalm 119:145 – “I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.”
The 119th Psalm is powerful. God’s Word is mentioned in every single verse. Since this is the year that my vision is to order my steps even more in His Word, I am ending this teaching letter with three more verses from Psalm 119.
? Verse 120 – “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.”
? Verse 160 – “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”
? Verse 172 – “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.”
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my prayer that you allow the Lord to order your steps – even more – in 2024. He is depending on us to be at a place in our lives where He can work freely through us to reach the lost and the dying.
Here’s to an exciting 2024!
