Hi Brian!
The word for this week is "lead". There are two different Hebrew words that we will look at. The first is found in Psalms 5:8:
8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way level (straight and right) before my face.
The is the Hebrew word "nachah". Strong's Concordance and Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon both say: lead, guide. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says: the conducting of one along the right path. God will lead and guide and direct us every moment by His Word and by His Spirit. We need to stay in fellowship with Him and aware of His presence in order to receive and act on that leading. Having children puts us in position to understand the heart of God, and to be able to respond properly to HIS leading! As He leads you, then you lead Avery, guiding her to make the right choices!
The other word for lead is found in Psalms 25:5:
5 Lead me in Your truth, and teach me: for You are the God of my salvation; on You do I wait all the day.
The Amplified Bible says:
5 Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.
I like to pray this as I study the Word because I know that He hears and answers that one! He strongly desires that we know Him by knowing His Word! This is the Hebrew word "darak". Strong's Concordance says: to tread, to walk, to guide. Brown-Driver-Briggs says: to tread, to lead, to march, to cause to go. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says: "The basic concept behind darak has to do with setting foot on territory or objects" It also says: "In Deuteronomy and Joshua the verb is used of taking possession of the promised land." Also: " A frequent idiom is 'treading upon the high places of the earth', indicating control of the enemy." This word involves more action! We must take the Word that we see and understand and act on it, becoming a "doer" of the Word and not just a hearer (James 1:23-25). When we follow His leading and direction and act on it in obedience, then we don't "march" alone, but He walks every step of the way with us! That is like when you don't just tell Avery to do something, but you do it right along with her, showing her how it's done and giving her the support she needs to keep at it and not quit!
It is such a blessing to see you and Kristine training Avery in the way she should go, and seeing her respond to your loving instruction and encouragement! You are more like your heavenly Father than you even realize! We are so blessed to be a part of your lives! Here is Hillsong Live with "Born Is The King (It's Christmas)", because we know how much you love Christmas!
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
