Psalm 31 is a fascinating text. Most commentators believe that the backdrop of the text is David being persecuted (and pursued!) by Saul. What a difficult time period that was, right? David is the chosen of God, and yet he will not do anything to Saul while God allows Him to be in command of Israel. Instead, David fights against God’s foes (see Goliath) and plays soothing music for the king. He doesn’t harm Saul, even when given the chance, because he respects the position he’s in – at least, he respects the One who put Saul in the position. Yet through all of that, Saul repeatedly turns on David. He tries to kill him with spears, he hunts him, he seeks to deceive him and ruin his friendships. He wants David’s head! And it is within that context that David pens Psalm 31.

Bow down Your ear to me,
Deliver me speedily;
Be my rock of refuge,
A fortress of defense to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me. (V. 2-3)

No doubt David wanted some direction. He wanted to be delivered out of the extreme persecution and difficulty. He wanted to be pleasing to God. So he asked, “lead me and guide me.”

This is a sentiment often within my heart. Especially last year, as Robert and I were faced with the largest decision of our married life – to move 500 miles or not. And so, I found myself uttering these same words. I wanted God to lead the decision. I wanted to do what God wanted me to do. I wanted Him to guide me. Yet over and over, as different decisions presented themselves, I found myself asking which was best – which was God’s decision. And since God doesn’t speak to us today in still, small voices, I just had to do what I thought would bring Him the most glory.

I know you’re familiar with those feelings, right? How can we know what God wants for us? How can we allow ourselves to be lead and guided by God today? I think the answer lies in the rest of Psalm 31.

Three times throughout this psalm David says that he trusts in the Lord. In verse 15, he even says, “My times are in your hand.” Clearly, the key component to allowing God to have control over your life is trusting Him to do so. Acknowledging that your days are in His hands. Instead of keeping the reins in your own grasp, give them to God. Trust that He knows what’s best for you. Pray hard, honest things, and trust that He’ll handle it. Ask Him to close doors. Ask Him to open doors. Ask Him to remove things from your life that you don’t need. That’s a scary prayer to utter, but if we truly, wholly trust God, it isn’t scary at all, because we know He wants what’s best for His children.

Going back to the opening of the psalm, David says, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness.” Those last two phrases seem to hold the final keys to being lead and guided by God. First, we cannot be ashamed. If something violates God’s laws, we must not be afraid to stand up and say so. If going to a certain movie or event is against God’s purity and holiness, then I will tell my friends/co-workers/etc. that I cannot go, and I won’t be ashamed that I can’t. I won’t feel like a goody-goody (whatever that even means!). Instead, I’ll be allowing God to use me. I’ll be allowing God to lead my choices. To help guide me in His paths. If I’ll stand up for His truths, I’ll be lead in a direction of sanctification, and isn’t that what we all want?

Secondly, though, we see that David says, “deliver me in Your righteousness.” We know from Psalm 119:172 that “all [God’s} commandments are righteousness.” So ultimately, if we want to be lead and guided by God, we will seek righteousness, which is, we will seek to do His commands. And when we are practicing His commandments, following His holy word as closely as we can, we’ll be lead in a heavenward direction. He’ll be guiding us through the Holy Spirit, Whose words will be the light to our path (Psalm 119:105).

So often, people conjure up some really out there ideas about how God speaks to and leads them in our present time. But here’s the thing: all of God’s children are equally as important to Him, which means He isn’t speaking to one and not speaking to another. He isn’t leading one down an amazing, exciting path and leading another through woe and suffering. Instead, He’s guiding all those who will trust Him; guiding them all in the same way. Through His word, God leads and guides us as sheep beside still waters. He gives us His expectations and commands, and promises that if we’ll follow His roadmap, we’ll be lead toward heaven.

If you want to be lead by God, here’s how to do it: trust in Him wholly, don’t be ashamed of Him, and seek His righteousness. Give control of your life over to His will for you – the will that says “if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15).” When you do that, you’ll be lead in the right direction…you’ll be lead right to our Father.