Running by Faith - Martin Wiles

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

The steps came at him faster than I could get to him.

My wife and I and two of our grandboys were out for a visit to Star Fort in Ninety-Six, South Carolina—the site of an American Revolutionary War battle. As we walked onto the battlefield, we were met by a small overlook tower. Our oldest grandson—then three and excitable—wanted to climb the steps to take a look. Since the steps weren’t steep, I gave him the go-ahead.

When I finished giving him a rundown of the battle and answering his questions, he was ready to walk the trail across the battlefield. A little too ready. He forgot he couldn’t run down steps as he ran on level ground. Halfway down, he stumbled and fell face forward down several steps. I hollered for him to hold on as I tried to pick up my pace and rescue him.

Fortunately, he only received a wood burn. After a few minutes of crying, he was off to the next “clue”—as he called the informational signposts—which told him more about the battle.

The apostle Paul walked by faith and said all believers should as well. But I often have the same trouble my grandson did. I want to run by faith when I need to slow down and walk. When I do, I fall down the steps and have a number of things potentially happen.

When I run by faith, I get ahead of God—as Sarah and Abraham did when they tried to hurry up God’s plan to give them a promised son.

Running by faith can cause me to outpace my spiritual maturity level. I may think I’m ready for God’s next assignment when I’m actually not.

Running by faith leads to overdependence on self. I forget I need God in every detail of my life. There is nothing I can handle by myself without making a mess of it.

When I try to run by faith, I often fall into sin, disobedience, and manipulative behavior. All actions that will interfere with God’s guidance of my life.

Experiencing any of these hurts that come from trying to run by faith can make us bitter, angry, and frustrated—none of which will enhance our faith walk.

Don’t run by faith; just settle for walking.

Father, hold me closely as I walk with you by faith. 

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The Walk - Lynne Phipps

Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. . . . Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:22, 24 NIV

My dogs and I try to walk every day. Since our property is fenced, the dogs can run freely. Some of them like to be out in front of me. Some cast back and forth across the field, and if not for the fence, would soon be out of sight. Others, however, always walk closely by my side. The walk is the highlight of my day.

As I contemplated the way the dogs and I walk together, I thought of how I walk with God. Do I like to walk out ahead of him, seeking my own path, only running back to him when I find myself in trouble? And do I cast about in the field of life, checking out all the exciting things it offers. Looking at things that can pull me farther away from my walk with him, until I can no longer hear his voice on the horizon of my mind? Or do I choose to walk closely beside God daily? 

In the Old Testament, those who walked with God did so by faith. They looked forward to the coming of the prophesied Messiah, Jesus Christ. Today, we walk with God through the guidance of his Holy Spirit, who resides in all who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. He is the Messiah, whom God foretold at the beginning of time in the garden after Adam and Eve sinned.

Walking closely with God, by remembering and dwelling upon the truth of his Word and by the power of his Holy Spirit, keeps us on the right path for life. Additionally, it protects, comforts, and guides us in the best way forward. Doing so also opens our eyes more each day. God shares with us just who he is and how much he loves us.

How is your walk with God? Are you out front, doing your own thing? Casting about, looking for something you think will be a little more exciting? Or calmly and obediently, like Enoch, are you walking by his side, feeling his approval day by day, until he takes you away to dwell with him forever?

Think of ways you can walk with God daily. 

Father God, may I choose to walk with you closely each day. Help me enjoy the peace, joy, comfort, protection, and love that come from doing so. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

What a Walk - Martin Wiles

And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:24 NKJV

He was the first to do what I longed to do . . . but probably never would. And what a walk it was. 

In his book, Walking with Spring, Earl Shaffer details his account of being the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail—a footpath extending more than 2,000 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine. The new trail was a mess and not as well attended as it is today. Nor did he have the modern equipment available presently. 

I once dreamed of taking a walk like Earl. Taking six months off from work and living in the wilderness, enjoying God’s creation. Although I’ve hiked numerous sections of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Virginia, I’ve never hiked the entire trail. Now, age and health concerns would prevent me from doing so. 

Enoch took a walk of a different variety. A walk with God. And when his time came to leave this earth, God just took him. He didn’t have to pass through the scary experience of death. He merely disappeared into God’s hands and entered heaven. 

To take a walk with God means going in the same direction as he does. God is characterized by holiness and righteousness. Walking with him means we must pursue the same traits. While we can’t be purely holy and righteous in practice as he is, we can be in position by accepting what he allowed his Son to do on Calvary’s cross: pay for our sins. When we accept that act, Jesus’ righteousness—which was as pure as God the Father’s—is applied to our lives.  

Walking with God is often taxing, as it was for Earl Schaffer as he maneuvered a rough and unkempt trail. But God promises to walk with us and give us the power to make it through the rough spots. 

Taking a walk with God requires obedience. Jesus says if we love him, we will obey his commands. Doing so isn’t always easy, but he will give us strength to do that as well. 

When we walk with God, we can also expect rewards. God gives us the desire to serve him, the power to obey his commands, and then rewards us for his accomplishments through us. The assurance of his presence and love now and throughout eternity keeps us taking another step. 

Walking is good exercise. Take a daily walk with God and reap the benefits.

Father, thank you for the privilege of walking with you. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Trudge - Lynne Phipps

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5 NIV

My dogs and I try to walk every day. Some days, we seem to fly around our route. Our time passes quickly and pleasantly and is over all too soon. But on other days, it’s more like the trudge. The Oxford Dictionary defines trudge as to walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically due to exhaustion or harsh conditions. 

Exhaustion or harsh conditions can also slow the journey of our souls. When life is going well, our relationship with the Lord always seems sweet and full of thankfulness and endless hope, like having wings. Our soul rejoices. The days fly by as we enjoy such calm, happy times. Yet when hardship arrives on our doorstep, life often becomes more of a trudge as we seek to move forward each day, dragging our faith along with us.

Years ago, I remember visiting a friend who was weary from life’s struggles. He quoted Paul’s words to me. When he had finished, he sighed and uttered, "I’m so sick of character building." We both laughed at his remark, yet I still remember feeling the weariness of his trudging soul. 

Amidst such trudging times, although we may feel alone, we never are. The Holy Spirit is trudging right beside us, reminding us of the following: 

The Lord himself goes before us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

He can lead us on the right path (Psalm 5:8).

He is the God of peace and can provide us with every good thing we need to do his will (Hebrews 13:21).

He is wonderful in counsel and wisdom (Isaiah 28:29).

He hears our pleas (Lamentation 3:56).

Therefore, let us not despair when life causes our souls to trudge. Rather, may we rejoice in the Lord’s love and ability to transform our trudgings into all good things in Christ Jesus: spiritual maturity and hope in the Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV).

He who gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak will help you through life’s trudges. 

Lord God, you who strengthen the weary and increase the power of the weak, thank you for always being with me, hearing my cries, and providing me with all I need to rejoice in my trudging so that I might persevere. Remind me that this produces character and hope, which will never disappoint. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

God’s Stretch - Martin Wiles

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

Once upon a time, I ran—but soon realized I must stretch before I did.

Walking has always been my favorite exercise. Not too strenuous, and easy on the knees. This prepared me for hiking in the mountains, which various family members and I did for several years. This was a little more strenuous on the knees. 

Then one day, I got the urge to begin running. Since my daughter was a track and cross-country runner, I knew I needed to stretch before I took off down the road. I watched the stretches she did and followed suit. Running exercises more muscles, so the chances of sustaining an injury are greater with running than with walking. Yet, even with the stretches, I continually battled shin splints. I’d buy medical implements designed to help relieve the pain and walk until they healed, but as soon as I started running again, they reappeared. I finally gave up on running and stuck to walking.

Though it seems inconceivable, God stretched, too. I discovered that a bit of stretching wouldn’t do the trick. The chances of injury increased if I slacked off on my stretching time—something I hated to do. (I preferred just taking off without any preparation.)

According to Paul, God’s stretch was lengthy and had far-reaching consequences. He stretched all the way to earth and us. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God sacrificed an animal and then used the skin to cover their nakedness. But these sacrifices were only temporary and insufficient.

Thousands of years later, God stretched a little further by sending his Son to die a cruel death on a rugged cross. We had failed to stretch to God, so he stretched to us. This stretch encompassed everyone who had ever lived or would ever live. Sin had injured the entire human race.

My stretching was voluntary, and so was God’s. He was under no obligation to treat our injuries. Love, however, demanded he intervene, but we must respond to God’s stretch. As his hand reaches out to us, we must reach out to him in faith and take hold, but not by good works, popularity, or payment. Our grasp must be by faith--plain and simple.

Respond today to God's stretch of faith.

Father, I thank you for stretching down in love, grace, and mercy to care for my sinful needs. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Be Secure - Martin Wiles

For I can do everything with the help of Christ, who gives me the strength I need. Philippians 4:13 NLT

Donned in my walking attire, I looked at my wife and said, “Anyone who can wear this is secure in themselves.”

For years, I’ve walked to keep off the extra pounds. But one day, when I dressed in the clothes I intended to wear while walking, my wife took one look and said, “That’s a hot mess.”

My pants had stripes, and my jacket had checks. I topped off my outfit with a striped Fedora hat. I really didn’t care what anyone else thought about my outfit—but that hasn’t always been true.

When I was a young lad, my appearance caused me great insecurity. Somewhere along the line, I stopped caring what others thought and became secure in my identity.

Paul had many reasons to be insecure after choosing to follow Christ. He was hounded frequently by unbelievers who would have loved nothing better than to destroy his ministry. The multiple trials he faced also added to his precarious situation. But he was confident.

As followers of Christ, we can be secure in our identity. The Bible calls us saints. The last time I checked, I was far from sainthood, but that’s my position in Christ. When we trust Christ as our Savior and receive his forgiveness, we trade in the label of “sinner.” Though we still sin, it’s not the pattern of our lives, nor does it have to be. The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live above sin regularly.

As believers, we can also be secure in our life situations. Paul experienced good times and bad times. He established many churches and witnessed thousands trust Christ as their Savior, but he also experienced patience-trying and life-threatening situations. Yet he was secure. In another place, he wrote, I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. Learning that lesson isn’t easy or quick, but when we’ve mastered it, unpleasant situations won’t cause us to feel insecure.

Further, as God’s child, we can be secure in our gifts. God gives all believers at least one gift of the Spirit, but most have more. Our responsibility is to use it (or them) wisely, faithfully, and in ways that honor the God who gave them.

If your life is hounded by insecurities, God can empower you to overcome them.

Father, I give my insecurities to you, believing you can help me conquer each one. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Dog Determination - Martin Wiles

Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Matthew 7:24 NLT

Dog determination helped my middle brother walk.

Gypsy was an ornery little cuss that, with the exception of one person, liked no one other than people in our immediate family. He was a Chihuahua-Manchester mix. Along with his ill nature came determination.

When my middle brother was ready to leave the crawling stage and walk, Gypsy was the item he chose to pull up on. Like the ruptured Titanic, Gypsy’s stomach sank as my brother’s weight pressed upon his back. Sometimes, his stomach would almost reach the floor, but he would never move until my brother was standing. Then, he scooted away, leaving my brother with a decision: walk or sit. He chose to walk.

Gypsy was a foundation that at times seemed almost ready to crumble, but he never did. When my brother realized the dog was reliable, he came back for more and eventually learned to walk without Gypsy’s help.

Jesus is the foundation we need to depend on as my brother did on Gypsy. When we obey Jesus’ commands, we build on this foundation and that makes us like a man who builds a house on a solid rock foundation. When the storms assault the house, it will stand—unlike the person who chose to build their house on sand that would easily wash away under heaven rains.

Obeying Jesus’ commands doesn’t just happen. It takes determination. As my brother had to rely on our dog to walk, and as the dog had to stand there while he pressed on him, so we must rely on Jesus’ power to obey. Otherwise, we’ll crumble like the house the man built on sand.

I normally accomplish what I’m determined to do. When I’m determined, I’ll put my all into doing whatever I’m determined about. Above all else, that should be obeying God’s commands. The secret is reliance on His indwelling Spirit. Not only is he our comforter, teacher, and guide, but he is also our source of strength. By his power, we can obey. By his power, we can continually build our lives on the solid foundation of faith in Christ.

Are you dog determined to obey God’s commands? Don’t let obedience merely be a matter of convenience.

Father, help me make my life’s goal to live in complete obedience to You. 

Don't forget to add your comments below. 

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Pointing the Finger - Martin Wiles

The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Genesis 3:12 NLT

She stood in the road—pointing her finger—and shouted, “Well, if you would stop, I could get him.”

As I took my daily stroll, I turned into a neighboring subdivision I had walked through for six years. I noticed a small dog crisscrossing the road about twenty-five yards ahead. I wondered what he would do when I approached—the reason why I carry a large stick.

Sure enough, when I reached where he stood in the front yard with his owner, he saw me, barked, and ran into the road after me. I spoke kindly to him, but he continued to yap, follow me, and place his muzzle against my ankle. I knew at any minute I would feel his teeth sink into my skin. Every few yards, I stopped, turned around, and shooed him away, but as soon as I turned to walk again, he returned to my ankle.

After thirty yards of this yapping, I stopped, turned, and hollered at him. It was then that I noticed the owner standing in the middle of the road telling me to stop so she could get her dog.

As politely as I could under the circumstances, I said, “Mame, you do know there is a leash law in this county?”

She replied, “Well, he has never seen you before.”

Suddenly, her breaking the law had become my fault. I made a mental note that in the future I would introduce myself to any strange dogs.

Pointing the finger has a long history, beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God gave them one rule to follow, but they broke it. When God confronted Adam about his sin, he pointed the finger at Eve. When God confronted Eve, she pointed the finger at the serpent.

What God wanted from the first couple—and what He wants from us now—was for them to take responsibility for their actions. Shifting the blame to others provides the easy way out but doesn’t relieve us of our responsibility in God’s eyes. I am responsible for my sin, for my refusal to forgive those who sin against me, for my unkind words, for the squabbles I initiate, and for the way I talk to a dog owner who doesn’t want to take responsibility for her animal’s actions.

The solution is simple, yet challenging: personal action. I must confess, I must forgive, I must apologize, I must love those who are unlovable, and I must rectify wrongs. The good news is that God goes before us when we take responsibility for our actions. He gives strength and wisdom. He knows always pointing the finger at someone else for our troubles will only lead us down a path to emotional sickness and stunt our spiritual growth.

Ask God to help you stop pointing the finger at others and take responsibility for your actions.

Prayer: Father, when we’re tempted to point the finger at others, help us to look at ourselves instead. 

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Staying on the Path - Martin Wiles

My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you. Psalm 17:5 NLT

Some paths lead nowhere.

My brother and I once hiked in Panthertown Valley, just outside of Cashiers, North Carolina. Although a beautiful place, it is confusing. The map I purchased at a local hiking store didn’t help. The trails through the valley are evident, but they aren’t blazed as most places we had hiked were.

Choosing the trial we wanted to hike, we launched out for a day of enjoyment—until we summited a mountain and the trail suddenly ended. Going back the way we came was an option, but a long one. I consulted the map and my compass and selected another way. The way involved bushwhacking down the side of a mountain—and a lot of uncertainty about whether we were going the right way—but we finally made it back to the main path that led out.

Walking on a well-worn path where tree blazes are evident is more comforting. Having a book that describes the trail and what I should observe along the way is an added help. Wavering from the path leads to getting lost—not something I’m interested in doing. Neither was the psalmist. His steps remained on God’s path. He had no desire to waver from it.

God’s main path leads to heaven. He wants everyone on it. The way to get on it and stay on it is simple: believe Christ paid for my sins, ask for His forgiveness, and obey His commands. Seems simple enough, until I face temptations and trials that attempt to cover the path. But God is faithful and will keep the path in plain view if I remain close to Him.

God’s path for my specific circumstances is not always so clear. Following what He wants me to do at any given time—in relationships, employment, career, college, finances—challenges my faith.

While the path to heaven never changes, the path for what God desires I do may change numerous times over my lifetime. Staying on the path takes effort, but God provides the means to do so. By praying—not just repeated words I toss out before I go to sleep—by knowing biblical principles, and by listening to the opinions of spiritually mature friends, I can remain on God’s path for me.

God never intends to hide His path from you. Just ask, and He will always make it plain.

Tweetable: Where is your path leading you?

Prayer: Father, make Your path clear for us, and then give us the faith to walk it fearlessly. 

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