Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Are you old enough to remember a time before GPS?! I am not an old-school map girl, but I definitely printed MapQuest directions for myself all throughout high school and college. My dad is a professional map reader, and I vividly remember the ones he would keep in the glove box of his pickup truck. To this day, he still talks to me like I actually know where north, south, east, and west are from wherever I’m standing!

If you are like me, there are so many times I wish I could have a roadmap for life or a MapQuest printout so I could know just how far to go before making a turn – or a U-turn! We know that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, but very rarely do we read it like that.

Psalm 37 gives us just what we want and need – a list of instructions!

Trust in the Lord

Take delight in the Lord

Commit to the Lord

Be silent before the Lord

How would it look if we applied this list of instructions to each scenario we face in life and faith? I encourage you to use this roadmap as a guide for prayer in the situations you are currently walking through. Below is the suggested starting place!

Trust in the Lord: “Lord, I trust You. I really do. I know You have a good plan for my life that brings You glory. Help me trust You with the big parts and the small details. Grow my trust in You through this situation, as I rely on You, and You display Your faithfulness. I trust You see what I cannot and that You will act in ways that are in line with Your character and Your Word.”

Take delight in the Lord: “Lord, You are good, and You bring good to me! You have filled my life with blessings, and Your kindness to me is overwhelming. I stand in awe of Your ways and Your works!”

Commit to the Lord: “Lord, I commit to You and Your ways. Your Word is the lamp to my feet and the light to my path. Your ways are higher than mine. I commit to Your commands, Your instructions, and Your expectations for my life. I commit myself to Your Word and to Your presence. I surrender to You – Your lordship over my life and Your holiness over my humanity. All I have is Yours.”

Be silent before the Lord: “Lord, I will wait for You. I lay my requests before You and I wait expectantly for You. Amen.”

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.