“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways.” (Psalm 119:1–3 NIV)

 

Early in our lives, we learn the importance of walking. It’s fascinating to watch infants make their way to toddlerhood as they become more and more mobile. When an infant first discovers what her limbs are capable of, usually her first instinct is to push herself up. She’s no longer content simply to lie down. She wants to take control of her little life.

She will try over and over again to coordinate the pushing up of her arms with the churning of her legs. When she does, she starts to crawl. Next, she’ll attempt to pull herself to a standing position, using whatever furniture is handy. She’ll test the strength of her wobbly little legs. She’ll discover balance.

She’ll take a tentative step—and fall. And then she’ll get back up and try again. Soon the steps will start to outnumber the falls, and she’ll be on her way to walking.

If you’re a new believer, you might be experiencing a similar pattern as you learn to walk with Christ. Psalm 119:1–3 says, “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways” (NIV). But walking according to the law of the Lord takes time, practice, and patience.

If spiritual disciplines such as prayer, worship, and studying God’s Word are new to you, it’s only natural that it takes you a while to find your balance in them. Your spiritual legs are still developing. If your lifelong reaction to sin has been to hide it, deny it, or keep it a secret from others, the idea of confessing it and asking for forgiveness may take a little time getting used to. And if you don’t yet have a working knowledge of your own faith, you’re probably not going to be comfortable talking about it with others.

But don’t let that immobilize you. Set aside time every day to talk and listen to God, even if it feels awkward. Praise Him for who He is. Thank Him for what He’s done. Ask Him to forgive your sins. Take your requests to Him. Spend time in His Word. Ask God to guide your understanding of it and show you ways to apply it in your life. Find a church where you can worship and fellowship with other believers. Look for ways to include your faith in your conversations.

Your first steps as a new believer will likely be a little shaky. You may stumble and fall more than a few times. God understands. His patience will amaze you. He doesn’t look at your outward accomplishments; He looks at what’s going on in your heart. If your intentions are sincere, He will take care of the rest in His time. The number of times you fall is irrelevant as long as it’s equal to the number of times you get back up and try again.

 

Reflection question: In what areas do you stumble in your Christian walk? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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