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My Father's Footsteps
Psalm 17:5 – My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. (ESV)
When I was a little girl, my parents used to take us sledding in the mountains during the winter. The fun part is sliding down the hill — the less fun part is getting back up! My dad was quite a big man: six feet six inches tall, size 13 feet. He used to create steps in the snow for us (and all the other kids) to make getting back up the hill easier. He'd dig his foot deep into the snow, one by one up the hill, creating tracks for us to follow.
This past weekend, my husband and I took our daughters out sledding. We were having a great time, but my youngest daughter was having trouble walking in the knee-deep snow. She kept complaining of being "so-o-o tired" (picture a very dramatic six-year-old saying this). I thought back to what my dad used to do for us in the snow and told her, "Follow Daddy's footsteps; walk in his tracks; it will make it so much easier!"
As this was coming out of my mouth, it hit me: Isn't this exactly what God wants for us? He wants us to follow Him. He has already created the path for us.
Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (ESV)
When we try to do things our own way and go off course from the Lord's way, our walk becomes a struggle; it gets a lot more difficult. It's like trying to walk through deep, deep snow. But when we follow Him, it's so much easier and lighter. By following Him and His path, we allow Him to direct us instead of trying to direct things ourselves.
I'm not saying that bad things will never happen and that life will always be easy. But walking in His footsteps means that we never have to go through those bad things on our own. He has created the path, even through the lowest valleys that we may experience in life. He gives us what we need in those dark times. In Psalm 119:105, the writer testifies, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the path to take and for promising to walk that path alongside us no matter what life brings us. Forgive us when we try to do things our own way. Continually bring us back to Your path, which is easy and light. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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By Psalm 17:5 – My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. (ESV)
When I was a little girl, my parents used to take us sledding in the mountains during the winter. The fun part is sliding down the hill — the less fun part is getting back up! My dad was quite a big man: six feet six inches tall, size 13 feet. He used to create steps in the snow for us (and all the other kids) to make getting back up the hill easier. He'd dig his foot deep into the snow, one by one up the hill, creating tracks for us to follow.
This past weekend, my husband and I took our daughters out sledding. We were having a great time, but my youngest daughter was having trouble walking in the knee-deep snow. She kept complaining of being "so-o-o tired" (picture a very dramatic six-year-old saying this). I thought back to what my dad used to do for us in the snow and told her, "Follow Daddy's footsteps; walk in his tracks; it will make it so much easier!"
As this was coming out of my mouth, it hit me: Isn't this exactly what God wants for us? He wants us to follow Him. He has already created the path for us.
Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (ESV)
When we try to do things our own way and go off course from the Lord's way, our walk becomes a struggle; it gets a lot more difficult. It's like trying to walk through deep, deep snow. But when we follow Him, it's so much easier and lighter. By following Him and His path, we allow Him to direct us instead of trying to direct things ourselves.
I'm not saying that bad things will never happen and that life will always be easy. But walking in His footsteps means that we never have to go through those bad things on our own. He has created the path, even through the lowest valleys that we may experience in life. He gives us what we need in those dark times. In Psalm 119:105, the writer testifies, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the path to take and for promising to walk that path alongside us no matter what life brings us. Forgive us when we try to do things our own way. Continually bring us back to Your path, which is easy and light. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.