How can we guard against our "feet almost stumbled" like in Psalm 73:2? The Reality of Slipping • “But as for me, my feet almost stumbled; my steps nearly slipped.” (Psalm 73:2) • Even the godliest can wobble. Asaph loved God, yet envy and confusion unbalanced him. • 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns, “So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.” The Roots That Loosen Our Footing • Envy of the prosperous wicked (Psalm 73:3) • Short-sighted focus on present circumstances (Psalm 73:4–12) • Neglect of corporate worship and personal communion with God (Psalm 73:16–17) • Forgetting God’s past faithfulness (Psalm 77:11–12; cf. 73:28) Guardrails for Our Feet 1. Eternal Perspective ‑ Psalm 73:17: “until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.” ‑ Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” 2. Regular Worship and Fellowship ‑ Hebrews 10:24–25 calls us to encourage one another and meet together. ‑ In the sanctuary Asaph’s vision cleared. So does ours when we gather. 3. Honest Lament and Confession ‑ Psalm 73 models pouring out raw struggles to God rather than suppressing them. ‑ 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 4. Anchoring in Scripture ‑ Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” ‑ Daily intake steadies the steps that otherwise skid on worldly slickness. Practices That Strengthen Our Walk • Meditate on God’s justice: read Psalm 37 alongside Psalm 73. • Keep a gratitude journal; note daily evidences of God’s goodness (Philippians 4:8). • Fast occasionally from social media or news that fuels comparison. • Serve the needy; it redirects the gaze from what others have to what others need (Acts 20:35). • Memorize stabilizing promises like Jude 24: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling.” Promises to Recall When Envy Rises • Psalm 73:23-24 “Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.” • Proverbs 23:17-18 “Do not let your heart envy sinners… surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” • Romans 8:18 “Our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.” Encouragement From Christ’s Example • Hebrews 12:2-3 urges us to “fix our eyes on Jesus… so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” • He faced earthly injustice without envy because He trusted the Father’s timing (1 Peter 2:23). • His victory secures ours; His Spirit steadies every faltering step (Galatians 5:16). Stay near the Shepherd, keep your eyes on forever, and the slippery places lose their power. |
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