Trust Your Guide
Summer of 2016 was quite a game changer...but that's a long story and not the topic I want to focus on right now. I do want to note that I had a babysitting job this summer that I was uncomfortable with for half of the summer, desperate for an escape from the loneliness that taunted me and the boredom I experienced. As the days passed and the hours wore on, I found that I did my best thinking while watching these kids...
While I was babysitting, I created a little habit with the children: we went on a walk around their neighborhood every morning after eating breakfast and getting ready for what God had planned for our day together. During one of our last walks together, I saw the similarities and differences of our walks as Christians and the morning walks I took with the girls I babysat.
You see, it seemed that every 2 minutes I would have to remind them to stay closer to the edge of the residential streets rather than the middle of them. They tended to walk too far ahead or lag behind, so I couldn't see them. At these times, I would either have to slow down and wait for them or speed up to catch up. They got tired of being corrected, and I was annoyed with having to constantly remind them of their mistakes. As Christians we are called to walk the strait and narrow path..."Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." God is faithful to guide us along that path. Jesus lights the way as we watch our footsteps. Although I prodded the girls to stay on the edge of the road, God wants us to keep from the edge of the path for he knows the snares of the devil are more often laid before us there. Paul instructs us in Philippians 2:14 to "Do all things without murmurings and disputings:" , yet many times we complain about the correction that our fellow Christians or even our Father offers us. The attitude of followers of Christ should not exhibit complaint, negativity in correction, or pride, but a overwhelming sense of humility and an appreciation beyond words for the times our Father grabs our hand and leads us toward the right direction on our walk.
Children aren't as observant as older humans are, and I had to check for cars and warn them when one was approaching...for the first few weeks. "Girls there's a car coming. You need to scoot over towards me more." They took longer to obey than my patience wanted, but they listened to my instruction. That was in June, but by August we were walking and the girls would call out to each other and to me as well. "There's a car Miss Rose!" "A car is coming you need to get in the grass." One would say to the other. Spiritual growth doesn't come only by our failures, but by the example others have set for us. Had I not continually reprimanded the girls for being in too close a proximity to cars, they would have not known any better than to stay as far away as possible. Had the disciples, apostles, and our family before us taken the walk God calls us on, we would have no knowledge of the contrast between right and wrong.
Sometimes...actually most of the time, the younger girl would want to ride in a little pink play car rather than walk, and her older sister would take the liberty of pushing her in this car. While the older girl pushed her sister, she would go from the edge of the road to the middle and I would remind her to stay straight instead of veering to the left or right. During the many different times of our walk with God, we have been directed toward the idea of heading straight rather than hugging the sides or sidestepping. We can either accept that mistake and correct it or see where it takes us, ignoring the issue.
Often times, I would take over pushing the pink car because the older sister was constantly returning to the middle of the road no matter how many times I told her to steer back to the edge. After doing this, she would sulk behind me and say, "My feet just keep going that way, and I don't know why." I wanted to laugh but her words got me to thinking about all the times God has had to take control of our lives because we can't do it ourselves. Sometimes we begrudgingly relinquish control of our lives to our Father when we should gladly hand over the reigns knowing he created the world, and everything we see has been a result of his marvelous power. We feel useless when we have to let God do his job. Just as the older sister blamed her feet and the lack of control she has over them, as humans we tend to blame our emotions and our thoughts for misleading us. But that's just us lying to ourselves in order to better our self-esteem.
I think the most important thing to remember about our spiritual walk is that it's a choice we make to serve God with every fiber of our being, not 99%! If we made the choice to walk the walk, we have to hold ourselves responsible for the times we fail and move forward WITH God's guidance. If we refuse to trust God or let him instruct us in our daily lives, spiritual growth isn't possible. It stings, but it's the truth.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
May the Most High God lead you on your walk, but even more may you trust your Father and his plans for you.
Jesusfreak
While I was babysitting, I created a little habit with the children: we went on a walk around their neighborhood every morning after eating breakfast and getting ready for what God had planned for our day together. During one of our last walks together, I saw the similarities and differences of our walks as Christians and the morning walks I took with the girls I babysat.
You see, it seemed that every 2 minutes I would have to remind them to stay closer to the edge of the residential streets rather than the middle of them. They tended to walk too far ahead or lag behind, so I couldn't see them. At these times, I would either have to slow down and wait for them or speed up to catch up. They got tired of being corrected, and I was annoyed with having to constantly remind them of their mistakes. As Christians we are called to walk the strait and narrow path..."Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." God is faithful to guide us along that path. Jesus lights the way as we watch our footsteps. Although I prodded the girls to stay on the edge of the road, God wants us to keep from the edge of the path for he knows the snares of the devil are more often laid before us there. Paul instructs us in Philippians 2:14 to "Do all things without murmurings and disputings:" , yet many times we complain about the correction that our fellow Christians or even our Father offers us. The attitude of followers of Christ should not exhibit complaint, negativity in correction, or pride, but a overwhelming sense of humility and an appreciation beyond words for the times our Father grabs our hand and leads us toward the right direction on our walk.
Children aren't as observant as older humans are, and I had to check for cars and warn them when one was approaching...for the first few weeks. "Girls there's a car coming. You need to scoot over towards me more." They took longer to obey than my patience wanted, but they listened to my instruction. That was in June, but by August we were walking and the girls would call out to each other and to me as well. "There's a car Miss Rose!" "A car is coming you need to get in the grass." One would say to the other. Spiritual growth doesn't come only by our failures, but by the example others have set for us. Had I not continually reprimanded the girls for being in too close a proximity to cars, they would have not known any better than to stay as far away as possible. Had the disciples, apostles, and our family before us taken the walk God calls us on, we would have no knowledge of the contrast between right and wrong.
Sometimes...actually most of the time, the younger girl would want to ride in a little pink play car rather than walk, and her older sister would take the liberty of pushing her in this car. While the older girl pushed her sister, she would go from the edge of the road to the middle and I would remind her to stay straight instead of veering to the left or right. During the many different times of our walk with God, we have been directed toward the idea of heading straight rather than hugging the sides or sidestepping. We can either accept that mistake and correct it or see where it takes us, ignoring the issue.
Often times, I would take over pushing the pink car because the older sister was constantly returning to the middle of the road no matter how many times I told her to steer back to the edge. After doing this, she would sulk behind me and say, "My feet just keep going that way, and I don't know why." I wanted to laugh but her words got me to thinking about all the times God has had to take control of our lives because we can't do it ourselves. Sometimes we begrudgingly relinquish control of our lives to our Father when we should gladly hand over the reigns knowing he created the world, and everything we see has been a result of his marvelous power. We feel useless when we have to let God do his job. Just as the older sister blamed her feet and the lack of control she has over them, as humans we tend to blame our emotions and our thoughts for misleading us. But that's just us lying to ourselves in order to better our self-esteem.
I think the most important thing to remember about our spiritual walk is that it's a choice we make to serve God with every fiber of our being, not 99%! If we made the choice to walk the walk, we have to hold ourselves responsible for the times we fail and move forward WITH God's guidance. If we refuse to trust God or let him instruct us in our daily lives, spiritual growth isn't possible. It stings, but it's the truth.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
May the Most High God lead you on your walk, but even more may you trust your Father and his plans for you.
Jesusfreak
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