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Watching My Step

I've always had big feet. It's true. There was never a moment in my childhood when my feet were not an object of frustration and ridicule. And those "dogs" were all over the place, facing the wrong direction, tripping over themselves, tripping over coffee tables, desks, chairs, other people. It was embarrasing. Watching my step was a full time job. Since becoming a man, I've mastered my former oppressors (my size 14's) and you would hardly noticed my attention to detail. However, today, at 40, I'm still watching my step.

With so much experience and success with walking and watching my step, I've discovered that the same is true in my spiritual life as well. I haven't always watched my step in life and of course, it resulted in me finding myself in all kinds of traps, snares and dead ends. I've spent years tripping over my sinful habits and walking down dirt roads that lead to nowhere. To no one's blame but my own.

After experiencing defeat after defeat and getting lost after every turn, I've come to the grand revelation that I don't know where I'm going. I need to be led. I need guidance. I need to watch my step. Unpacking my relationship with God, I found Someone who is qualified to lead me to the truth, Someone who knows where He's going, Someone who has been waiting to take the lead. That Someone is the Spirit of God.

You knew I was going to say that, didn't you! Of course you did. Just like you knew that if you have a relationship with God, you have the power and the purpose to live by His Spirit. That living by the Spirit means you are not a slave to your sin nature. The Apostle Paul also made that assumption when he penned his letter to the churches in southern Galatia. "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Gal. 5:25) Keeping in step means I must have perfect timing with the Leader. It's impossible to do that when I'm listening to the beat of a different drummer, in other words, when life is more about me and my desires than about the will of God. I must make the effort to crucify my sin nature and it's cravings daily and embrace the freedom of the Holy Spirit. But I must admit, somedays I just wanna be like Burger King and have it my way. LORD thank you for prompting me to look down and watch my step!

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