Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
To ask to be taught the way of the Lord and led in a plain path is to ask for instruction in the right way and for step-by-step guidance in a clear, upright and straight course that God Himself directs. The plea because of enemies seeks His protecting guidance while living under hostile scrutiny, so that the walk remains blameless before watchful observers. God answers that prayer for light by teaching duty and making the path plain, giving personal leading and assurance of His will instead of leaving the petitioner in darkness. Praying it today means laying aside natural inclination, selfish ambition and human plans in choosing work, and submitting fully to inquire what He wants done. It is the dependence needed by all, especially teachers and students who must learn from Christ before instructing others, and by consecrated youth who find it their food to do His will wherever His Spirit leads.
Meaning of the Petition
To pray to be taught the way and led in a plain path is to ask for instruction in the right way and for guidance in a clear, upright, straight course that God Himself directs step by step. The plea because of enemies seeks guiding protection in the presence of enemies, claiming the promise to guide and instruct those who seek Him, since none walk safely except under the Holy Spirit's guidance. Enemies also include observers, so the prayer asks for a plain path and a blameless walk while others watch with scrutiny.
The verse was the prayer of Enoch in perplexity as he walked with God, educating mind and heart to feel continually in the divine presence and keeping the Lord continually before him. It asks God to teach His way so as not to err, to show His pleasure concerning the life, to show what to do to honor Him, and to keep from any course that would offend Him. Praying it shapes the way and course in accordance with the commandments, with perfect confidence and trust that the heavenly Father will help, with no thought or will of one's own but all submerged in the Father's will. It is the opposite of being inclined to follow one's own way instead of keeping the way of the Lord, and it keeps a person in harmony with heaven. Such dependence that submits fully to the divine will rather than following personal plans is exemplified by Jesus, who did nothing independently of the Father.
God answers this prayer for light by teaching duty and making the path plain, so the petitioner is not left in darkness. The leading is personal and cannot rest on another person's light, and it directs practical decisions about work, such as whether to travel to meetings or remain shut up to writing, bringing peace and rest when obeyed. The request for a plain path is reflected in praying for clear guidance, then receiving assurance of moving according to the divine will even when the way had not seemed clear. When money fails, workers go unpaid for months, large accounts for groceries and living supplies must be run up, and there is not enough means to help poorer brethren through the winter, God who is good and knows all the necessities of His people will open the way before them, lead them in a plain path, and let them see His salvation.
Praying the Verse Today
When choosing what work to do, the prayer to be taught the divine way and led in a plain path is to be offered instead of marking out the way that natural inclination prompts. It means not choosing only the work most pleasing to self and not refusing to do what fellow believers think should be done, but setting that self-pleasing choice aside and inquiring of the Lord what He wants done. Decisions and work are thus to follow God's purpose and will rather than human plans and selfish ambition, with full submission to His will and instruction sought for each step. That dependence is shown in asking for teaching and leading rather than acting independently, even as Christ did nothing independently of the Father.
The prayer expresses the dependence needed by all, since none walk safely unless under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is especially the need of principals, teachers, and students who claim the promise of divine guidance and instruction for those who seek Him. It is a fitting prayer for those who must learn truth from Christ before instructing others. Such learning comes with a subdued heart, listening to the Holy Spirit and walking in love, until God leads to a holier standard in which self is merged in Christ.
It is the cry of consecrated young men and young women who represent Christ to the world as ministers of His grace and messengers of mercy. They are kept by God's power for the work of redemption, with hearts throbbing in unison with Christ's heart, and they find it their meat and drink to do the will of Him who called them. The prayer belongs to putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh, by people of earnest prayer whom the Lord strengthens for activity. They go wherever His Spirit or Providence leads, holding talents and possessions not as their own but as stewards of manifold grace and servants to the church for Christ's sake.
In place of complaining, finding fault, bickering, and strife, the prayer for divine instruction and leading expresses the desire to dismiss the enemy and the spirit of the enemy. It is a desire to enter more deeply into the science of Christianity and to make an entire consecration of body, soul, and spirit to God. Praying it means submitting to the cleansing of the Holy Spirit, with sincere repentance for evil thinking and evil speaking, and letting the peace of God rule in the heart. In that spirit the petitioner seeks to work in a way that honors God, since God cannot use those who find fault and criticize others.
Praying the verse shapes the way and course in accordance with God's commandments, asking Him to teach so as not to err. It asks Him to show His pleasure concerning the life, to show what to do to honor Him, and to keep from any course that would offend Him. It is offered with perfect confidence that the heavenly Father will help, with no thought or will of one's own but all submerged in the Father's will. This is the opposite of being inclined to follow one's own way instead of keeping the way of the Lord, and it keeps the person in harmony with heaven. So prayed in perplexity, it educates mind and heart to feel continually in the divine presence and to keep the Lord continually before the petitioner.
To ask to be taught the way of the Lord and led in a plain path is to ask for instruction in the right way and for step-by-step guidance in a clear, upright and straight course that God Himself directs. The plea because of enemies seeks His protecting guidance while living under hostile scrutiny, so that the walk remains blameless before watchful observers. God answers that prayer for light by teaching duty and making the path plain, giving personal leading and assurance of His will instead of leaving the petitioner in darkness. Praying it today means laying aside natural inclination, selfish ambition and human plans in choosing work, and submitting fully to inquire what He wants done. It is the dependence needed by all, especially teachers and students who must learn from Christ before instructing others, and by consecrated youth who find it their food to do His will wherever His Spirit leads.
Meaning of the Petition
To pray to be taught the way and led in a plain path is to ask for instruction in the right way and for guidance in a clear, upright, straight course that God Himself directs step by step. The plea because of enemies seeks guiding protection in the presence of enemies, claiming the promise to guide and instruct those who seek Him, since none walk safely except under the Holy Spirit's guidance. Enemies also include observers, so the prayer asks for a plain path and a blameless walk while others watch with scrutiny.
The verse was the prayer of Enoch in perplexity as he walked with God, educating mind and heart to feel continually in the divine presence and keeping the Lord continually before him. It asks God to teach His way so as not to err, to show His pleasure concerning the life, to show what to do to honor Him, and to keep from any course that would offend Him. Praying it shapes the way and course in accordance with the commandments, with perfect confidence and trust that the heavenly Father will help, with no thought or will of one's own but all submerged in the Father's will. It is the opposite of being inclined to follow one's own way instead of keeping the way of the Lord, and it keeps a person in harmony with heaven. Such dependence that submits fully to the divine will rather than following personal plans is exemplified by Jesus, who did nothing independently of the Father.
God answers this prayer for light by teaching duty and making the path plain, so the petitioner is not left in darkness. The leading is personal and cannot rest on another person's light, and it directs practical decisions about work, such as whether to travel to meetings or remain shut up to writing, bringing peace and rest when obeyed. The request for a plain path is reflected in praying for clear guidance, then receiving assurance of moving according to the divine will even when the way had not seemed clear. When money fails, workers go unpaid for months, large accounts for groceries and living supplies must be run up, and there is not enough means to help poorer brethren through the winter, God who is good and knows all the necessities of His people will open the way before them, lead them in a plain path, and let them see His salvation.
Praying the Verse Today
When choosing what work to do, the prayer to be taught the divine way and led in a plain path is to be offered instead of marking out the way that natural inclination prompts. It means not choosing only the work most pleasing to self and not refusing to do what fellow believers think should be done, but setting that self-pleasing choice aside and inquiring of the Lord what He wants done. Decisions and work are thus to follow God's purpose and will rather than human plans and selfish ambition, with full submission to His will and instruction sought for each step. That dependence is shown in asking for teaching and leading rather than acting independently, even as Christ did nothing independently of the Father.
The prayer expresses the dependence needed by all, since none walk safely unless under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is especially the need of principals, teachers, and students who claim the promise of divine guidance and instruction for those who seek Him. It is a fitting prayer for those who must learn truth from Christ before instructing others. Such learning comes with a subdued heart, listening to the Holy Spirit and walking in love, until God leads to a holier standard in which self is merged in Christ.
It is the cry of consecrated young men and young women who represent Christ to the world as ministers of His grace and messengers of mercy. They are kept by God's power for the work of redemption, with hearts throbbing in unison with Christ's heart, and they find it their meat and drink to do the will of Him who called them. The prayer belongs to putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh, by people of earnest prayer whom the Lord strengthens for activity. They go wherever His Spirit or Providence leads, holding talents and possessions not as their own but as stewards of manifold grace and servants to the church for Christ's sake.
In place of complaining, finding fault, bickering, and strife, the prayer for divine instruction and leading expresses the desire to dismiss the enemy and the spirit of the enemy. It is a desire to enter more deeply into the science of Christianity and to make an entire consecration of body, soul, and spirit to God. Praying it means submitting to the cleansing of the Holy Spirit, with sincere repentance for evil thinking and evil speaking, and letting the peace of God rule in the heart. In that spirit the petitioner seeks to work in a way that honors God, since God cannot use those who find fault and criticize others.
Praying the verse shapes the way and course in accordance with God's commandments, asking Him to teach so as not to err. It asks Him to show His pleasure concerning the life, to show what to do to honor Him, and to keep from any course that would offend Him. It is offered with perfect confidence that the heavenly Father will help, with no thought or will of one's own but all submerged in the Father's will. This is the opposite of being inclined to follow one's own way instead of keeping the way of the Lord, and it keeps the person in harmony with heaven. So prayed in perplexity, it educates mind and heart to feel continually in the divine presence and to keep the Lord continually before the petitioner.