Many of you know that I love to walk. I really got serious with it back when I started my weight-loss journey. At first I did it just because I felt like I needed to do it to lose weight. After a while, I did it because it made me feel good. I think the reason I like it so much is that it gives me time to just ponder the things that concern or interest me. I was to a place where I walked at least two miles a day, and if I fell short of that I really felt like I had failed for the day. Some days, I would walk three, four, or five miles…. and one or two times I made it six in a day. Obviously, I have a lot to think about! Ha!

Then on July 22nd of this year, I had surgery. That totally derailed my walking routine. I surely missed it! I was getting better and stronger, but I still didn’t feel up to walking. Finally this past Friday, I decided that I felt strong enough to walk a little. I got dressed for it, tied my shoes, and out the door I went. I set my sights low and only planned for a mile. Easy peasy, right? Wrong. By the time I reached 1/4 mile, I realized that I had best turn around and head back home. I was so disappointed.

Today, however, I set out on a walk, and made it two miles. It was not as hard as I was afraid it would be, but a long way from as easy as it was before the surgery. So often, my mind wanders through Scripture as I walk. Today, I was thinking about different verses that feature roads, paths, highways, byways, etc. Now, don’t let me mislead you, I’m not good at spontaneously recalling verses by memory, but the Holy Spirit often brings verses to my mind and if I can’t quote them exactly, I will look them up at my first opportunity. So, since I got home, I have been looking up these and other verses. I’ll share some of them and my rambling thoughts with you here:

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

Matthew 7:13

This verse is so contrary to how our society lives today. In today’s culture, we are taught that the best way is the easy way. We are taught that we should compare ourselves to others in order to measure our worth. That is such a dangerous world view. It seems that most of the world is stampeding ahead on that broad road towards destruction while Christians are doing their best to go in the opposite direction. Our way is narrow, and opposite of the way of the world. Quite often it feels as though we will be trampled underfoot. After all, we are not citizens of this world. We’re citizens of heaven making our way through this world. The trappings of this world: the worldly pleasures, the fame, the fortune, and the success that so many seek are a hindrance to our spiritual growth. One day when we stand before the Lord, He will not be interested in what sort of car we’re driving, nor will He measure our worth by how much money we have. He will be looking to see if our sins have been covered by the Blood of the Lamb, His Son, Jesus Christ. He will be interested in the seeds we have sown into the lives of others, to help them by being examples of Godly living, and if we shared His Word and our testimony with them. So, if you look around and notice that you’re traveling in the easy direction with the majority of folks… stop right then, turn around quickly, and seek out the narrow gate.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on you own understanding; in all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Straight paths. The very idea that the Lord would make my paths straight before me if I only acknowledge and submit my will to Him. While I was walking, I was thinking about this and about how many curves and turns there are in life. How many times have I come to a crossroads in my life and instead of hesitating and praying and submitting myself and my will to the Lord, I have chosen what I thought best and then asked Him to bless my choice? More than I can count. It’s a horrible and sinful habit to have. We are to pray and ask Him for guidance in each and every detail in our life at every turn. God’s Word assures us that if we will indeed do this, He will straighten our paths before us. God Himself is truth, so this is a promise that we can stake our very lives upon. The next time you come to a decision point on the path of life, stop, pray, and truly ask God to direct you. He will. Then commit yourself and your plans to Him. He will bless your way.

My feet have closely followed His steps. I have kept to His way without turning aside.

Job 23:11

Poor old Job! What a hard time he had! Tragedy after tragedy had befallen him, and even his friends and wife assumed that he must have deserved his misfortune. Job kept telling them that he had not strayed from the law of God, and refused to curse God and die. Little did he know that Satan himself was toying with his life. Thinking about this makes me remember the times that sadness or pain have entered into my life. So many times, I wondered why I had to suffer. I learned though, that God’s ways are higher than mine and my understanding. I have even learned that sometimes the Lord allows suffering in order to draw us closer to Him. I remember as a child, walking behind my great-grandfather who I called Papa. He was a big tall man with a Stetson hat on his head. He took big steps in the gravel on his used car lot and I would do my best to walk in his steps. I wanted to be just like him. I would follow and follow and do my best, but I was just too little. My legs were much too short to match his stride, yet I never tired of it. Oh that I would study my heavenly Father and keep my steps in line with His! Oh how I wish that one day I could say that I had not strayed from His way by turning aside!

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

There are so many celebrities, politicians, and false prophets in this world that do everything they can to tell us that Jesus’ words here are false. They tell us that there are “many ways” to God; that all roads lead to God; that being a good person will get you to heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that Jesus is the very Son of God. He was born of a virgin, and lived a completely sinless life on this earth. Jesus Christ wrapped Himself in flesh and came to this world as fully God and also fully human. He felt hunger, thirst, fatigue, and sadly pain – yet had full authority over all creation. He literally took our sins upon Himself willingly and suffered torture and death on a cross so that we could receive full pardon from God. He conquered death, the grave, and hell and rose again on the third day and has ascended to the Father to wait until it is time to take us up with Him to live in His presence forever. We could never have been good enough to earn our way to heaven. As I have discussed above, too many times, we have turned our steps our own way. Too many times, we have followed our own paths. Too many times, we have broken God’s perfect law. Too many times, we have traveled that broad path towards destruction. Too many times, we have followed in the steps of sinful man rather than walked the road of obedience with our Savior. The Lord Jesus knew that we were unable to keep our way. He knew that His perfect sacrifice was the only way for us to live eternally with Him and our Father. He loves me that much and He loves you that much. He won’t leave us to our own devices, if we will just call on Him and trust Him as our Lord and Savior. I don’t know what path you are on. That is between you and the Lord, but what I can tell you is that He promises to never leave or forsake you. He has overcome the world. Trust Him today. He is calling for you.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”

Matthew 11:28-30