Stepping Stones: Take a Hike!

March 31 – April 1, 2012

Transformational Thought

Spring is in the air, plants are budding, we’re working in the yard, enjoying bright sunny days and evenings, outside sports and activities, and even taking an occasional jog, appreciating and enjoying God’s great creation.

My wife and I really like taking walks together. Hiking is even better than walking. Hiking is a really fun, healthy, adventurous, and growing experience, especially with a guide. Several key elements of a hike include … the intention of the guide and hiker to go on the hike together … coordinated movements modeled by the guide and repeated by the hiker … strategic planning initiated by the guide and followed by the hiker … and most important, trustworthiness of the guide and willingness of the hiker to trust the guide.

Once we come to Christ in faith we begin a walk, actually, an adventurous hike with God on an incredible daily journey. The destination for this lifetime … the Mind of Christ, the Promised Land, the Abundant Life … is described to us in The Holy Bible. Yet we’ve never been there before, nor do we know exactly how to get there. The Bible gives us very concrete instruction but the actual application is initially a challenge to understand. Numerous detours and false paths make the road really hard to follow. It is vital that we learn to trust our Guide, God and the Holy Spirit, in every area of our lives … day in and day out.

We can trust Him because we are assured that when we love God and commit our lives to Him, He works everything … the good and the bad … together for good. We can trust Him because He has demonstrated His great unconditional love for us. We can commit our wayward child to Him because we know He loves that child even more than we do. We can commit our finances to Him because we know that He will work all things for good as we follow Him and trust Him for wisdom. We can trust our loved one's health to Him because of His mercy and love. We can trust God to work His plan in our ministry … and His plan is perfect.

Is there an area of your life that you are clinging to … and worrying about … instead of trusting God? God cares about everything that concerns you. You see, Satan and the self-centered part of us are trying to brainwash us into thinking we really can’t fully trust anyone … that the only one who knows best for me is …. ME! What a detour to destruction that path is.

Today, examine your daily hike. Where are you going and who is your guide? These are the 2 most important questions you need to ask. If you are your own guide, or if you are following your own map and system, or the world’s system … you are lost! Keep your eyes on Him. Love and trust Him. He will go before you … He will guide you … He will strengthen you … and He will work all things for good. Edging Forward is designed to help you follow God as your guide, edging forward one stepping stone at a time in your everyday hike to the Promised Land. Choosing the guide is your decision, so choose well.

Prayer
Dear Father God, I have been worrying about this situation and trying to fix it myself. My way hasn't worked. I commit this situation and my hike to You and trust You for the answer. I want You to be my Guide and no other. Help me to resist being my own guide, because I now know my own path leads to the wrong places. No matter how things look now, I trust You to work all things together for good and get me to the right place … the Mind of Christ. I pray this and all prayers in the name of the One I strive to trust completely, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:13,14