Order My Steps
Tidbit Text: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he
delighteth in his way." Psalms 37:23
This Sunday as we (the Lord and I) were traveling to church, I noticed a man
and a woman walking. I could easily see that the woman was upset with something
or someone because she constantly turned around and "snapped" at her
walking companion. But I drove on, not paying too much attention to them. After
dropping off a package at the church (Veronica broke a heel on one of her shoes
and we had to bring her another pair), we went back in the same direction to
pick up a friend who was going to church with us.
Again I saw the man and woman. This time the Lord said, "Look closely
at both of them," so I did. I noticed that the woman was in FRONT of the
man and she was still "Going Off Like A Bomb!" She had a look of
disgust on her face and her body language was openly letting everyone know that
she was highly upset. But… the man’s demeanor was quite different. In fact,
it was the opposite of the woman’s. He had a smile on his face and he seemed to
have a pleasant disposition. As he walked BEHIND the woman he tried to calm her
down and to be the voice of reason. Also from time to time he would make body
gestures that suggested, "please listen to me" and "stop wasting
time over this." It was not long before they disappeared from my rear view
mirror and I went into meditation over what I had seen.
Shortly afterwards, the Lord brought to me this week’s tidbit text,
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his
way" (Psalms 37:23). Now if our steps are ordered by Jesus, WE should be
walking step for step BEHIND Him—NOT IN FRONT OF HIM!!! If we allow the Lord
to lead, He won’t have to counsel us to walk behind Him; He won’t have to tell
us to "Let go of the past, stop hating those old enemies, trust in me to
direct your path." Just think, most of the pain in our lives probably came
when we were walking in front of the Lord down the dark paths of life. If His
word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths (Psalms 119:105), then
surely He himself is most capable of guiding us into the richness and fullness
of His (our) Father.
