Stepping in the Right Direction - Martin Wiles

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24 NLT

Taking steps is a frightening experience.

I remember when my children and grandchildren first began to take steps. First, they pulled up on a piece of furniture. Then they let go and reached for the next closest thing they could grasp, taking only one step to get from point A to point B. But when there was nothing for them to hold, taking a step became a frightening experience. Many falls and stumbles followed, but the expression on their faces when they had mastered the process of stepping was priceless.

My life steps have taken me in many directions. When hiking in the mountains, my steps took me over roots, rocks, moss-covered ledges, narrow paths, and deep ruts. One misstep could have resulted in a broken bone, or even death. My steps—some intentional and some not, have taken me to places where danger lurked. They’ve taken me down roads where I’ve known a measure of success. They’ve also taken me into the company of bad company.

Though the psalmist maintains God directs the steps of His children and delights in the details of their lives, God also won’t force me to take steps in His direction. His endowment to humanity was free will so that following Him was voluntary, not forced.

Stepping in the right direction means I won’t step where I might want to step but rather where God wants me to walk. Prior to knowing Christ, my sinful nature led me to perpetually step in the wrong direction. The new nature Christ gave changed my desires, but I still do battle with stepping in the right direction.

God cares about the details of my life. He cares what steps I take and the direction they will lead me. He is not a distance deity who created me and then left me to figure out life by myself. Even with the best intentions, I’ll stumble.

Trials will confuse me and temptations will tempt me, but God will hold my hand and gently lead me through each one. And I’ll come out victorious if I’ll keep holding His hand. Like the child learning to walk who wants to hold an adult’s hand, God wants me to grasp tightly to His hand through all of my life’s experiences.

Monitor your steps. Step in God’s direction, and let Him accomplish His plan for your life.

Tweetable: Steps determine life direction. 

Prayer: Father, as we step through life, may we step in the direction You would have us go. 

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