December 28th

December 28th

God’s timing is important. Often, we drag our feet or race ahead instead of walking right in step with Him. This only brings us frustration as we find ourselves in the situation of wondering where God is or why we are not seeing fruit.

Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

This reminds me of marching band back in Highschool. Everyone had to be in step with each other. It wasn’t as hard as you would think. You didn’t need to worry about everyone around you, you only had to worry about the person in front of you. It actually became second nature. We didn’t worry about what was going on further ahead of us in the parade or what road hazards might lay ahead, we just kept our eyes on the person in front of us. It was the leader’s job to be aware of what was ahead and keep us out of harm’s way or keep us in time. The people in the front row looked to the leader and each person behind them looked to them and so on.

This is the way it goes for us. We are not to worry about what is ahead, we just need to trust the Holy Spirit and keep in step with Him. He knows what we will face down the road and He leads us through everything needed to prepare us for what is ahead. As we head into the new year let’s work on keeping in step with the Holy Spirit instead of getting impatient, running ahead or dragging our feet. We may find ourselves going through things that make no sense at the time, but we can trust that it just may be preparation for something we can’t see yet. As He asks us to do things (or not do things) we should be obedient and focused on gleaning whatever we can learn in our circumstances. Rather than focusing on where we want to be or on what may be down the road, we should proceed through life with our focus on the Holy Spirit; He will be faithful to lead us exactly where we need to be, exactly when we need to be there.

If we choose to walk at our own pace and on our own path, we will make decisions based on the wrong things. We will make decisions based on what we see or think we know, rather than on the unseen. And we will be wrong.

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

There are those who think that the Lord is not interested in all of our decisions but instead only the major ones. But I cannot find a scripture anywhere in the Bible that supports that. I find verse after verse that affirms and encourages us to trust the Lord with all of our decisions and that nothing is too small to consult with the Lord. I also find many verses that warn us of the consequences of going our own way.

Isaiah 48:17-18 This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.

So, as we approach the new year, let us keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Let’s ask Him what we need to do, who we need to reach, how we need to spend our time and energy and when we need to do all of these things.

Jesus, help me to remember that you know what is ahead. Help me to rely on you Holy Spirit to lead me through this day and the days ahead. Help me not to get so worked up about what is ahead that I get out of step from you today. Help me to become comfortable with following your lead instead of my own. Thank you for your patience and help me to lean in to you alone.

2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.