Step This Way, Please - The Crosswalk Devotional - August 30
Step This Way, Please
By: Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? - Proverbs 20:24
Sometimes, we seem to sense God’s leading, feeling surefooted of the direction our steps are taking us.
Yet, at other times, it can feel like we’re aimlessly wandering around, not hearing His voice at all and unsure where our next steps are leading us to, causing us to feel at times like we’re just stumbling around in life, making missteps, getting off track and headed directions we didn’t plan on going.
Not that we’re trying to misstep, but as our steps aren’t making sense at the moment and don’t seem to be leading us in the direction we thought we were headed.
Long before the popular “Star Wars” miniseries “The Mandalorian” created the catchphrase, “This is the way,” God’s been showing us the way to walk.
This saying originates in the Bible, found in Isaiah 30:21, where God assures us, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
When Our Steps Seem All Over the Place
Recently, I felt like I was really struggling in choosing and sending birthday gifts to a treasured friend. Spending literally days, evenings, and weeks praying for inspiration and direction, looking at various options, and so on, I finally decided in what seemed like a last-minute style on a few select items to send.
So feeling let down, like I waited too long, missed the gift-giving boat, didn’t plan well, and so on and so forth, the gifts were sent but left me feeling like I had fallen short, failed, and let her down.
A few days later, I received the following text from my friend who received the gifts:
“I want to thank you so much for the birthday gifts. I think I can honestly say I have never enjoyed gifts as much as these. Every day for 5+ days I totally enjoyed my roses and the cheesecake was so amazing. It was perfect! I still have a few pieces of the chocolate I’m hoarding those…lol. Thank you for such wonderful gifts!”
When It Feels Like a Misstep
How many times do we allow the enemy of our soul to point fingers at us, causing us to doubt God’s guidance in our lives and accusing us of all kinds of shortcomings in an attempt to steal our joy away from us, rather than trusting that He is leading us, even when it doesn’t seem or feel like it at the time?
This isn’t the first time that my wandering or uncertainty in a situation has brought about an inspired response, where, although it seemed like I was just roaming around clueless, God was leading me in a very specific direction that reaped heartfelt responses.
When We Think We’re in Charge of Our Steps
Although we might be tempted at times to believe that we are in control of our steps, Psalm 37:23 explains, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way” (NASB).
Not only is God leading us, but He enjoys it. Sometimes we may believe when we ask for His guidance that He’s tired of our asking, but He’s not. God delights in leading us in His way.
Likewise, we can trust Him to be with us, directing our steps in the right direction.
As Proverbs 3:5-6 assures and urges, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Have you felt lately like you can’t sense God’s leading in your life? If so, be encouraged that even when you don’t feel like He’s directing your steps, He still is. And although at times you may be tempted to believe He isn’t, feeling like you’re floundering, God is there, right with you, leading you saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”
Further Reading:
When God Establishes Your Steps
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/FilippoBacci
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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