Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me; he fights and oppresses me all day long. My adversaries trample me all day, for many arrogantly fight against me.
PSALM 56:1-2 (CSB)

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Do you ever feel like someone is walking all over you? David did. Saul wanted him dead and the Philistines wanted him dead. He was a man without a country. He was isolated and vulnerable. The only thing he had going for him was God. This is the same God who empowered him to kill a lion, a bear, and a giant. 

This led David not only to tell it like it was, he also told it like it is:

When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

Not only did someone walk all over David, he and others watched his steps looking for an opportunity to murder him (verse 6). This bothered David deeply (verse 7). He knew, however, God was watching over his steps, keeping a record of his wanderings (verse 8). He collected every tear. He recorded every event. This gave David the confidence to know that, though they walked all over him now, they would retreat when he called on God in prayer (verse 9). 

“This I know: God is for me.”

David then repeated what he had said before:

In God, whose word I praise, 
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
In God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere humans do to me?

Others may walk all over us. They may trample us beneath their feet with their schemes. David gives us confidence when he says, 

For you rescued me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.

God is in charge of our steps. When we live out the maximum expression of his purpose for our lives, he rescues us, he keeps us from stumbling, he empowers us to walk before him in his light of life. 

Adam and Eve walked with God, until they did not.

Enoch walked with God until he was not. 

Noah walked with God but had to be told to step out of the boat.

Abraham walked before God. David walked before God. Both men lived through extreme adventures and survived to tell the tales. Walking before God in the assurance of his presence and provision even when there are no clear directions or instructions is a matter of faith. Walking before God and knowing he is for you gives you confidence in whatever may come. 

This morning I read Numbers 6:24-26:

May the LORD bless you and protect you;
may the LORD make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
may the LORD look with favor on you
and give you peace.

I also read Luke 9:1:

Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.

Conclusions:
* God is for me.
* God will bless me. 
* God will protect me.
* God will smile on me.
* God will be gracious to me.
* God will look on me with favor.
* God will give me peace.
* God will give me power and authority for whatever he leads me to do.

How could I fail?

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I will live a life of maximum expression as God directs my steps according to his purpose.

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Our Father, thank you for blessing me to be a blessing to others. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for your saving grace and the grace by which I can stand. Thank you for looking on me with favor. Thank you for the peace of your presence. Thank you for empowering me to accomplish your purpose for my life. Indeed, how could I fail? I will walk before you today with blessed assurance. Amen.