The family went on a long walk in the woods this morning. It was a gorgeous way to start the day and got me thinking more and more about the little phrase I find myself saying to myself and sometimes to Josh.
“Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
When you are in a new place sometimes it’s tempting to just sit down and stop trying to figure out where things are. Or maybe it’s tempting to quit introducing yourself to new people that seem pretty well set with their group of friends. Maybe you hear about your old city and friends there that are getting together and you’re tempted to wonder what it would be like to take steps back in time to when you were there with all things and people familiar, too. Loneliness can play terribly tricks on the mind and heart if you’re unguarded.
Josh asks me, “How’s your day going?” And some days I have said, “Just putting one foot in front of the other.”
And that’s ok. At least I am still showing some effort, still trusting God and His plan that is high above my thoughts and ways. If there is anything I have learned in my short life, it is that I really don’t know much about what is best for me. I have gotten far ahead of God in my heart and mind way too many times. I have also lagged behind in stubborn disobedience, much to my dismay. There is a freedom in trusting God when things are not wonderful circumstantially; your heart can be at peace because, well…GOD! He loves me. He is good. He does all things well. He can be trusted; I cannot.
The Israelites in the book of Joshua most definitely showed trust when they took the steps into the Jordan River and then saw the waters part. They walked across on dry land.
In Joshua 3 the waters are parted AFTER the soles of the feet of the priests entered the river:
13 “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”
They didn’t just move on after that miracle, but Joshua 4 tells us that the priests took twelve stones of remembrance and Joshua put down twelve stones in the river where the priests had stood:
8 Thus the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the Lord spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and put them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day.
I am here putting one foot in front of the other, sure that the Lord has His eye upon me. Sure that He led us right here, right now. Sure that His ways are perfect. Sure that His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path on this walk called life.
So I picked up a stone today on my walk. A stone to remind me of God’s truths that have been so personal to me during this season of “putting one foot in front of the other.”
Micah 6:8 He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the LORD is requiring from you— to act with justice, to treasure the LORD’s gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.
Colossians 1:10-11 so that you might walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and be fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit while doing all kinds of good things and growing in the full knowledge of God. You are being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, so that you might patiently endure everything with joy.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
2 Corinthians 5:7 …we walk by faith, not by sight.
I have put one foot in front of the other rather mindlessly some days, just waiting for nighttime when I could go to bed. But lately the Lord has been very personal to me and gracious with me. He has reminded me that I am to walk with purpose and in His promises every step of the way. He has reminded me that He is with me. He has also reminded me that the evil one would like me to stop walking ahead, claiming the land the Lord has given to me and my family. I can stand firm in His truth, and I can keep moving forward because He is guiding me with His eye upon me.
Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
That’s a promise I can stand on and walk with on this journey of life, no matter where it takes me!
