When I used to live in South Carolina we would go to the mountains every once in a while. The best time to go is in the fall when all the leaves are changing colors. The trees are beautiful. The Blue Ridge Parkway has walking trails along the road that you can stop and walk. It is so beautiful and you don’t want to rush through it. You want to take it step by step. As you walk the paths and look around you see the different colored leaves of yellow, red, orange, rust and even burgundy colored. It would be a shame to drive through without enjoying the wonder of it and the majesty of God that gave birth to it all. When we first receive Jesus as Lord the wonder in our hearts and the overwhelming love we start to feel is just the beginning. There is so much more that God wants to do in us and through us if we let Him lead us step by step. We have years of the world in us and some of it has scarred our hearts. God heals those scars little by little step by step. (Deuteronomy 7:22) “The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.†We grow and rid our hearts of impurities along God’s path of spiritual maturity. The path He leads you on is step by step as to not overwhelm you but gently guide you. (Proverbs 20:24) A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?†When He sent Abraham out from the land of his father, He told him to “go.†He did not tell him everything He wanted to do when he arrived all once. He just said, “go.†He told Moses to “go†and both Abraham and Moses obeyed and God erased the scars of the past and used them mightily just because they trusted and obeyed. Heed the words this old song, “trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.â€
As we go through one trial at a time God gently leads us. He cleans out the impurities and wrong thinking and replaces it with right thinking. Little by little, step by step our minds are renewed and transformed as we continue to follow Him and stay close to Him in prayer and reading His word. (Romans 12:1-2) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.â€
God wants you to enjoy the life He gave you to live and enjoy it to the full and not rush through it. (John 10:10) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.†Some of the trials you go through are scary as most thunderstorms are, but after the rain the sun shines and the flowers bloom! The rain brought minerals that help the trees and flowers look vibrant and full of the color they were meant to have and the rain that comes in the storms of your life will do the same for you. (Zechariah 8:12) “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people.†It will produce in you fruit that is everlasting. Next time a trial comes that looks scary, look outside at the beauty of the world and remember the storms that the trees and flowers lived through to bring them into their own individual beauty. (James 1:2-4) “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.â€
God does not want you just to be saved; He wants to bless you and give you all things; starting with your inner self. (I Samuel 16:7) “But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." He wants you whole inside first and foremost. The rest will come; He knows all your needs and will supply them. (Philippians 4:19) “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.â€
Do not be afraid when the storms of life hit; just let God lead you step by step.
Step by Step
Step by Step You lead me. Step by step I follow.
You lead me in the everlasting way.
Though darkness may surround; the light of Your
glory illuminates my path.
Darkness is not dark to You,
so in childlike faith I follow.
Though darkness may surround; darkness is not dark to You.
The light of Your glory lights my way.
So step by step I follow.
You lead me in the way everlasting.
Step by Step You lead me. Step by step I follow.
You lead me in the everlasting way.
You bore my sins, you wore my pain; in it I am healed.
By the cross You carried all my sins, all my pain &
all my worries are nailed to it. So step by step I follow.
You rose to glory and left life, liberty and purity behind
Through Your Holy Spirit; so step by step I follow.
Step by Step You lead me. Step by step I follow.
You lead me in the everlasting way until finally those
Steps lead me home.
If you will allow God to lead you and not run away to fear and doubt when a storm comes that looks dark and scary, He will lead you through it to victory. Some things He heals and brings closure too instantly and others He will lead you through in the form of a storm. If there is a lesson to learn or you need your eyes opened to a truth that you will just not learn unless you walk through a trial, God will take your hand and walk you through step by step. Let Him, He has already been through ahead of you and knows the path to victory and deliverance. (Deuteronomy 9:3) “But be assured today that the Lord your God is the One who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; He will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you.â€
Trust in the One who did not even spare His own Son but sent Him to be the sacrifice and atonement for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead to bring us peace and righteousness; a promise of an eternal salvation, a home in heaven for eternity. Do not doubt His love and faithfulness and ability to bring you through to a life that is full of His blessings and purpose.
(Romans 8:32) “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?â€
