Chapter 3: 9

The Lord Teaches Me
"Prayer of Learning”

“Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.  Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
(Psalm 27: 11-13).

The Lord, in His presence, not only hears us and gathers us up, but He teaches us also.  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalms 32:8)

In the Lord’s presence, we experience His guidance and teaching, and we learn what we are to do in the matters of our lives. He also corrects our understanding and explains our issues.

It is considered that the main cause of anxiety, fear and alarm is erroneous interpretation and negative conclusions concerning the affairs of our lives.

Studies have shown that the number of ideas that roam the individual mind to be nearly 50,000 thoughts a day. You can assume that about 80% of these thoughts are negative, such as mulling over the events of the past, and apprehension for the future.

It was found in another study that 92% of the fears that we dread never even happen, but are in fact only subjective interpretations, incorrect conclusions, and illogical fears.

Look at what terrified Elijah!
He was afraid because he thought that he was all alone and that Jezebel could kill him. But when the Lord came to him, He corrected his understanding and made clear to him “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19: 18).

Also remember how the Lord dealt with the disciples who were on the road to Emmaus, transforming their downcast faces to hearts burning within, when He interpreted the matters to them correctly. “Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24: 25-27).

Sometimes we are frightened by the thought of many things which we presume are against us, but in the presence of the Lord, we learn “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8: 28).

Oftentimes we are confused and perplexed and hesitate concerning many things: What should we do? What should we choose? What should we decide?! But when we calm down in the Lord’s presence, He teaches us His way, not our way, and His will, not our will. “Teach me, O Lord, your way.”

The Lord not only teaches us, but He also guides us, holding our hands, and accomplishing His will in our lives. “Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.” This is the request of the Psalmist, saying: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139: 23, 24).

Fear is not the result of your circumstances, but the result of your thinking in your circumstances.

Magdy Samuel