Psalm 37:23-24

(23) The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. (24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.

Introduction

I remember a former co-worker, in humor, telling me that he had not found a way to make the “happy” in the phrase, “Happy New Year,” last longer than the first day of the year. For him, after New Year’s Day, everything went back to the familiar failures, old attitudes, bad habits, and unhappy work routines. In fact, sometimes the first day of the year was not happy for him because he had a hangover from the excessive celebration. Then, the preacher came out in me, we got serious, and I referred him to this Scripture and gave him the plan of salvation.

In his humor, he probably voiced the sentiments of many people, even church people. How does one commingle “happy and new” in a positive way? The happy part is elusive because new implies change, and positive change is difficult at the beginning, messy in the middle, and beautiful at the end. Even if we are doing well, there is the expectation to do even better in the future. The pressure of constant improvement can be challenging and stressful. If climbing Jacob’s ladder was easy, everybody would be climbing it.

For Christians, true happiness comes from the contentment that only God can give. We are content with what we have achieved as we progress toward a greater future. Our happiness does not depend on what happens to us. It depends on what happened at Calvary!

The only way to be happy and content for the three hundred sixty-five days of the year is to allow the Lord to order our steps. It is steps – plural, not one step. That means that we must be in constant communication with the Lord. We must pray, mediate, read our Bibles, and be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is what we will know to do when we allow the Lord to order our steps.

Exposition

1. What To Perpetuate.

(Some Things We Need To Keep On Doing.)

(They Are Basic And Beneficial.)

(Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42; 2nd Timothy 3:14.)

2. What To Initiate.

(Some New Things We Need To Start Doing.)

(Make Sure The New Things Are Of God.)

(Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 43:18-19; Isaiah 48:6; 1st Corinthians 2:9.)

3. What To Eliminate.

(Some Things We Need To Get Rid Of.)

(Some Things Are Detrimental.)

(Some Things Will Drain You Spiritually And Emotionally.)

(Some Good Things Have Run Their Course And Are No Longer Useful.)

(Genesis 12:1-2; Isaiah 52:11; Ecclesiastes 3:5; 2nd Corinthians 6:17-18.)

4. What To Tolerate.

(Some Things You Just Have To Live With.)

(You Cannot Change It, And God Has Not Decided To Change It Yet.)

(Just Let It Be.)

(There Are Problems And Then There Are Conditions.)

(We Solve Problems – We Manage Conditions.)

(Job 14:14; Acts 20:24; Romans 12:18; Romans 14:1-8.)

5. What To Celebrate.

(We Celebrate The Goodness Of God.)

(We Celebrate The Achievement Of Others.)

(Sometimes It Is Easier To Weep With Others Than To Celebrate Their Success.)

(Psalm 92:1-2; Romans 12:15.)

Closing Thoughts

I will close with a few of the lyrics of a well-known gospel hymn written by Glenn Burleigh.

“Order my steps in Your Word, dear Lord,

Lead me, Guide me, every day;

Send Your anointing, Father, I pray.

Order my steps in Your Word.

Please, order my steps in Your Word.”

Give God Glory! Give God All The Glory!

Copyright © 2025 by James C. Ward

All Rights Reserved