Step By Step
"The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way." Psalm 37:23
There in the middle of the store drawn on the concrete floor was a massive hop- scotch game. I found it a bit awkward being that it wasn’t just a kid’s store. Yet I wondered how many adults may have hopped their way to the finish line and celebrated the memory of childhood days. I wish I could have been so brave and uninhibited to do the same, but I delighted in the memory of playing this game on my driveway and the school playground. It taught coordination and determination as we hopped faster and faster attempting to only use one foot on a single square and two on the double squares. We made it a little harder by enforcing the rule that you could not step on the line and often times just to increase the challenge we wrote “skip” on one of the spaces.
I find that life can feel a little like hop scotch. We get caught in the common and have no expectancy for the God sent surprises in daily living. Days get tough and we become impatient with one step at a time. Let’s be real here. There are many squares we just want to hop right over and become quite frustrated when we bump into a line that interferes with our plans. Give me the chalk and let me change this game. The uncomfortable, painful and inconvenient seem to shout, “Jump right on over it. Hurry on past and get this over with.” But there in the middle of the struggling painful square, we come face to face with Eternal God.
This week I was amazed to come alive to new understanding of the attribute of “Eternal God”. No beginning and no end; everlasting to everlasting; perpetual; forever. A. W. Tozer says, “God has already lived all of my tomorrows.”
Stop and ponder that!
“God has already lived all of YOUR tomorrows!”
He knows what’s in the next square. I just have to show up willing for Him to grow me in my faith to trust Him for that one little square called today. Both feet flat and planted on the Rock of Jesus who holds today. No fear necessary because eternal God has already been there and provided everything necessary.
"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8
The children of Israel were led through the wilderness day-by- day and step-by- step. They followed God’s guiding cloud wherever it went. When it moved, they moved. When it stopped, they set up camp. If it remained one day, they stayed one day. But if it remained a year, they stayed a year. They were uncertain where it was leading them, but they trusted their faithful Shepherd to lead them in the right way. Their trust was never wasted as He brought them safely to their promised land.
God orders our steps and leads us in the same way. Step by step He leads us to our promised land.
God lives in today, not tomorrow or yesterday. Let’s join Him there.
"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8
'The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself
fight on your behalf. Deuteronomy 1:30
“For the LORD will go before you,
and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:12