Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
I set a goal to walk the dog first thing every morning by going to the end of the road and back, even in freezing cold weather. My resolution was tested yesterday when I was a good distance down the road, and it all turned to ice. I could see my destination, but I wasn’t so sure of my ability to get there. I started thinking that I needed to turn around so I didn’t fall and break something when my goal flashed in front of my eyes.
I came to a roadblock; I could fail at my goal or become victorious. If I continued on, I knew I’d have to go slowly and shuffle along which would put me behind schedule. The devil doesn’t like us to achieve our goals and knows when we’ll be challenged the most!
You have to understand that I’ve been practicing changing my thoughts and words by declaring what God wants from me. I’ve been working on showing obedience to Him. Guess what I do on those walks every morning? I repeat that I’m strong, I’m victorious, I’m bold, I’m courageous, I make the right decisions, etc.
I had to make a choice right there if I was going to quit before fulfilling the goal or if I was going to put one foot in front of the other to be victorious. It didn’t take me long in deciding to keep going! I’d been telling myself I could do it without even realizing I was setting myself up for success. I just figured that if I went down, at least I could call the hubby to come pick me up.
The most amazing thing happened…once I started forward, there was a tiny, narrow strip of snow right in the midst of all that ice. It wouldn’t be something I’d see, unless I was really looking for a path! There was enough traction to keep me upright if I just followed it. When it stopped, there was another one to take its place!
Wasn’t that amazing? I not only made it to the end, it didn’t take me nearly as long as I thought it would. Once I was determined, I was willing to crawl to reach my goal, but I didn’t have to!
After completing my walk, I felt such a sense of accomplishment. When you complete something you start, it builds confidence. Today, I faced that ice without even slowing down. The path where I needed to travel was new, but I had confidence from not quitting yesterday.
I started thinking that this was God’s way of showing me all about life. If He calls me to do something, I can guarantee the devil will try to stop me. I need to ignore him and stay in obedience to God. Right thinking will help me do it.
He’ll already have a path planned, I just need to follow and keep my eyes focused straight ahead. He’ll light the path! If I start looking at the challenges around me, it will take my sights off the goal and I’ll get distracted which could cause me to slip. I also learned that once I let Him lead me the first time, it becomes easier to do each time after.
The character trait for today is Obedience-quickly and cheerfully carrying out the direction of those who are responsible for me (definition from characterfirst.com).
There was a second lesson in my morning walk. What was the pup going to do? If he got ahead of me, I needed to correct him by turning around, but I couldn’t or I’d lose balance and fall of the strip. He shocked me! The pup who likes to creep ahead seemed to know he needed to let me completely lead. He actually dropped behind me and followed. Sometimes we need to follow the Leader, while being the leader to someone else!
How many times do we get excited to complete a job or a goal that God has for us…until that first roadblock. If God gave you the orders, shouldn’t we realize that He gave us a way to complete them? Just obey and follow the path! I guarantee you’ll be able to find it if only you look.
