I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.
This Week We're Looking at Upright
What does it mean to walk upright before the Lord? "Upright," in Hebrew is yasar (זָקוּף). It means something that is vertically erect or standing straight.
To walk upright in the Lord is to:
Scripture tells us that God takes pleasure in the upright.
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
When we put on a nice outfit and makeup, and “do” our hair, we feel more confident and tend to walk upright.
Similarly, when we live a life of integrity and put on the armor of God, we have the confidence that the Lord is near and will be our refuge and stronghold.
"My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart." Psalm 7:10
No matter what we face:
Take Job for instance. He faced the loss of his family, horrible sores, the jabs from his friends, and much more. He didn’t get angry with God, he didn’t face temptation, instead, he continued to walk upright and put his faith in God.
God said this about Job:
"And the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?'" Job 1:8
God was pleased with Job and He is pleased with us when we make the choice (yes, it is a choice) to walk upright.
"I know, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen Your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to You." 1 Chronicles 29:17
When we walk upright, God rewards us in many ways:
We will enjoy the fellowship of God in Heaven for eternity! "The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever." Psalm 37:18
The Bible assures us that God will not withhold any good thing from those who walk in uprightness (see Psalm 84:11).
One of the greatest blessings though, at least in my opinion, is that by walking upright we are modeling Christ.
People see Jesus when they see us:
By walking upright, we can share the Gospel without saying a word!
Walking upright? I get it. It can be a struggle sometimes. Over the past year alone, many have had health issues, job losses, children suddenly at home full-time. It can be overwhelming, but when we take a step back, put on the full armor of God, and walk in faith, we can walk upright knowing that our Heavenly Father is pleased with us and will provide what we need, even peace, throughout our circumstances.
Susan is a Christian blogger, author, and speaker. She's the author of several books on marriage, living as a Proverbs 31 woman, and verse mapping. Susan has spoken all over the US at women’s conferences and retreats and has created various Bible studies that you can find here on her site. She loves to help women grow in their walk with the Lord.
Susan was raised in a Catholic home and often struggled with what she was taught. When her mother became ill, Susan began to seek the truth. At the age of 31, she gave her life to Jesus Christ.
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What does Upright mean to you?
14 Comments
12/29/2020 09:26:40 am
I love that walking upright is reciprocal. God saved us by His grace when we weren't upright and implanted in our hearts the desire to please Him. Then we read His Word and align our lives with it out of love for Him.
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12/30/2020 07:24:02 am
I love the fact that He loved me first. It truly amazes me every time I think about that. AMAZING GRACE!
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12/29/2020 09:38:25 am
Susan, I hadn't thought about how taking care of ourselves affects how we carry ourself. I like how you related that to our walk with God. When I think of upright I think of straight, nothing crooked or slanted physically or spiritually.
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12/30/2020 07:25:09 am
I love that, Debbie! "When I think of upright I think of straight, nothing crooked or slanted physically or spiritually." That's a great definition of upright.
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12/29/2020 10:03:06 am
I have been keeping an eye on my posture these days because I notice some slippage into a lazy carriage. I will let that be a watchword for me going into 2021, for I certainly do not want to slouch spiritually.
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12/30/2020 07:27:29 am
I like that analogy, Michele! 2020 has been a good year for "slacking off." I don't want to be there either! I will be more diligent in 2021 to be sure that every moment counts for eternity!
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12/30/2020 07:28:25 am
I know, Nylse! :-0 Susan must be like SUPER PRODUCTIVE!!!
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12/30/2020 10:00:34 am
My one word 2021 is Steadfast - almost synonymous with upright!
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1/11/2024 07:35:50 am
"Steadfast" is a powerful and purposeful word for the year, Susan, resonating with strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment. It's wonderful to see the connection to "upright," embodying a sense of moral integrity and standing firm in one's beliefs.
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1/11/2024 07:37:25 am
It sounds like Susan has left a positive and lasting impression on you with her writing talents, Lauren. I love that you expressed that! Celebrating the gifts and talents of others is a beautiful way to foster a supportive and uplifting community.
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Oh yes, the desire to what uprightly is in me yet how often I fail. Yet He continues to hold me up and love me even when I stoop. Reminds me of when I was a teen and had poor posture. Mom would come behind me, pat me on the back, tell me to stand up straight. It was a gently reminder and I think God pats me on the back with a gentle, merciful, forgiving way when I stray. What a great post on which to ponder and begin 2021 with. Thank you.
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1/11/2024 07:38:58 am
Your reflection is beautifully poignant and relatable, Linda. The image of God gently patting you on the back with mercy and forgiveness, much like a caring mother correcting posture, captures the essence of His loving and patient nature. The desire to walk uprightly is a noble pursuit, and the recognition of His continuous support even when we falter is a comforting truth. May your journey be filled with God's gentle reminders and abundant grace in your pursuit of walking uprightly.
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