Day 17: Ordered Steps, Part One | Learning to Trust God More, 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional from Psalm 37 - February 20

Friday, February 20, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



Day 16 — Ordered Steps, Part One

Psalm 37:23–24, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Key Thought: God celebrates guiding His people

Prayer: Help me to stay aligned with Your purposes

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”
• “Good man” is the righteous person, one who is aligned with covenant faithfulness (see Psalm 37:18, 21).

• The Hebrew word for “steps” refers to individual movements, daily decisions, progress, and life direction.

• The Hebrew word for “ordered” means established, made firm, secured, and prepared.

This verse does not suggest that God directs people apart from their choices. It is stating that one of the blessings of being “good” is that we can expect God’s guidance. He will not force His decisions upon us, but the Lord will give us enough insight and wisdom to make good choices. In the end, we are accountable for our choices, not God.

We learn from this text that God is actively involved in our progression through life. As Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33). Living aligned with God’s Word and purposes positions a person for divine establishment. Direction and stability are relational, something that comes through our relationship with God, not merely by religious deeds.

“And He delights in his way”
We talk a lot about our need to delight in the Lord, but we should also consider that the Lord wants to delight in us. “Delight” means to take pleasure in, desire, favor, and be bent toward.

God does not force guidance upon us; He takes pleasure in our path. He does not simply “tolerate” us—God celebrates His people. This reflects covenant intimacy. The believer’s obedience aligns with God’s purposes, and that alignment brings divine pleasure.

For Part Two, we will address “Though he fall.”

Reflection question: What does it mean to be "good" and how does that impact upon God's covenant faithfulness?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:

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