If a friend asked you to take a walk with them, it would probably depend on the season whether you'd say yes or no. Fall might be a definite yes, summer a probably, spring a maybe, and winter would be a no.
However, maybe you're a people-pleaser like me, and would just agree no matter what. So now you're taking a walk on a very cold day or a very hot day or in a thunderstorm, what do you do? You probably complain, blame your friend for their horrible idea (lol), or do something stupid like stump off and leave your friend, say something mean to them, or catch a ride with a stranger.
Does this sound like the way we treat God sometimes when we're walking through a season of life we don't like? Often times, I doubt my relationship with God in these times. Did I miss something God? Did I neglect your call to somewhere else? I must have done something wrong to end up here.
See, my problem is that I not only think of myself as the leader on the walk, I forget a lot that I'm not walking alone.
Recently, I told someone that I've been walking in an unknown season since my graduation last year. I also said that I don't see it ending any time soon either. It's like walking at night or in a fog. I have an idea of where I'll be in a couple of months, but ask me where I'll be or what I'll be doing in 6 months or a year and I'd shake my head and shrug.
The thing is that I've come to a place where I'm totally okay with this. I'm at total peace with it. For I know that if I'm walking with God humbly and wisely, then everything's going to be okay. And even when I fall or throw a tantrum, stop or get stuck - God will gently lead me back to the walking path.
We’re often hesitant about following someone, especially if we don’t know exactly where they’re taking us or what we’ll encounter. However, through remembering our journey with God, we understand that He’s trustworthy. Through acting justly, we’ve realized that God’s always righteous and leads us towards goodness. Furthermore, through loving mercy, we’ve learned humility and that God delights in being merciful to us – even when we fall or have gone our own way.
The Bible is our tracker guide – it shares how to walk and information about our leader. In Psalms, David explains that God’s like a shepherd and we’re like sheep. He provides for and restores us, just as a shepherd would give their sheep food, water, and love. He stays with us and comforts us, especially in places filled with danger, as a good shepherd would. We’re also told that God leads us, while goodness and mercy follow us, encouraging us on. In Ephesians, we learn that God has created and already finished the path we’re walking. Additionally, we find that in Psalms and John that Jesus and the Bible are lights to help us in this dark world.
We can walk humbly with Him by: First, understanding that God leads us on the right paths. We don’t have to doubt His leadership, He knows the direction and pace that’s best. Secondly, knowing our destination. Ensuring we know and remembering where we’re going – Heaven – gives us the endurance to continue. Third, seeking His will. If we seek His will and begin to align our desires with it – it’ll be easier to find the right paths. Four, walking in newness of life and not the counsel of the wicked. When we ask Jesus to be our Savior, God directs us to a new path. The devil will try to do things to block our path or reroute us, including using bad advice from those not seeking Jesus.
Here’s how not to walk with God: Believe that God never wants you to rest – Not only does God want us to rest, He makes us rest. Follow paths that the Bible warns us about – The Bible helps us know where we’re going and the roads to avoid. Ignore what’s weighing you down – We must acknowledge the sin that clings to us and the anxieties that paralyze us, so that we can give them to Jesus.
God’s Guidance:
Micah 6:8 (NIV) – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV) – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
John 8:12 (ESV) – “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
Psalm 119:105 (ESV) – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Romans 6:4 (ESV) – “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Psalm 1:1 (ESV) – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;”
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Application:
1. Share with God your feelings about walking with Him through life and choose to renew your commitment of letting Him lead you
2. Reflect on times when you seemed to veer off the path. Whose counsel were you listening to and what were you following? Decide accordingly how you can do better in the future
3. Ask God to help us take off the weights of sin, anxiety, guilt, and betrayal and give them to Him
Strength Point:
With the Lord as our leader and shepherd, the Bible as our tracker guide, Jesus as our light, the Holy Spirit as our cheerleader, and Heaven as our destination – we have everything we need to make it through our long walk.
Reflection Question:
What type of season are you walking through?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for walking with me through every season of life. You lead me in every step, preparing my heart and my mind for what’s ahead! I’m sorry for when I act like I know better than you and try to take over being the leader. I’m also sorry for getting angry, blaming You, or __, because of the hardships and obstacles I encounter in my walk. I want to walk with You in humbleness and wisdom. Teach me to understand that Your way is always better than mine. Help me to realize that I’m never alone in my journey through life, that Your Holy Spirit has always been with me – nudging me to follow You. Thank You that whether I fall, stop completely, try to take a detour, want to give up, act arrogantly, complain, feel lost, or __ - You are still right there. I want to honor and glorify You through every season I walk through, for You are with me and You comfort me. I love You, my good Shepherd! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for walking with us through every season of life. You lead us in every step, preparing our hearts and minds for what’s ahead! Help my friend to not act like they know better than You or try to take over being the leader. I pray that they wouldn’t get angry or blame You for the hardships and obstacles they encounter in their walk. Create a desire in my friend to walk with You in humbleness and wisdom. Teach them to understand that Your way is always better than theirs. Help them to realize that they’re never alone in their journey through life, that Your Holy Spirit has always been with them – nudging them to follow You. Thank You that whether my friend falls, stops completely, tries to take a detour, wants to give up, acts arrogantly, complains, or feels lost – You are still right there. I pray that they would want to honor and glorify You through every season they walk through, for You are with them and You comfort them. I love You, my good Shepherd! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen!
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