Finally we got the snow that we have anticipated. The
grandchildren watched it out our patio door last night. They will be waking up
to enough to play in for a while. I have enough for my beloved snow ice cream.
When I looked out on the patio in the night I noticed
footprints. Something had been there. It trailed around and left distinctive
prints in the snow. Because the prints were characteristic of a dog, I knew
what it was. It could not be mistaken for any other animal.
There are times when I wonder what kind of footprints I am
leaving behind. As believers we are given the Word to show us what they should
look like. Before we are born again the trail of prints might show anger, rage,
malice, rejection, haughtiness, revenge or more. The prints are of a wild
animal, one who lives by its own wits, retaliating whenever the need arises,
not caring what kind of mess might be left behind.
But when we are born again, we are given a new set of prints
to make in the world. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
gentleness and self-control. Not only
are we given this “footprint” to live by, we are given a living example to
follow in the Lord Jesus Christ, who completely gave up His rights and His
wants to fulfill God’s plan for redemption for you and me.
The world will tell you to retaliate in kind to whatever
gets thrown your way. But God says to repay evil for good, return a blessing
when cursed, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who use you and
persecute you. The Lord even is so wonderful
that He goes on in the very next verse to tell us why: “so that you may be sons
of your Father who is in heaven…” So the world will know who we are by
the footprints we leave behind, even in pain, sorrow, rejection and humiliation.
Oh beloved, I know you
are going through some hard things right now. You may have tried to fit in
where everyone wants to be and your footprints don’t match. You may have tried
living right and walking according to God’s plan and still you got rejected. You
may have been walked all over by circumstances you didn’t deserve. You may be
hurting and suffering at the hand of one who left huge prints of pain on your
heart. God knows your present situation and He’s with you. Keep walking in God’s
ways. Don’t change, don’t let the flesh make prints for you, don’t take matters
into your own hands. God promises blessings to you. He promises that your
footsteps are ordered by Him, so that you can know that you are watched over
and cared for even in the hard times, even in the pain, even in the anguish of
momentary afflictions.
How bless you are to
leave the Father’s prints everywhere you go! Those prints are full of the fruit
of the spirit and leave a fragrance of peace behind you. You don’t walk alone,
you don’t have to deal with your problems alone and you can ask Him to help you
walk just like He wants you to walk. You will be blessed and be a blessing as
you live in the Light of His Word.
For beloved, He loves
you and He’s for you and that’s how you can walk blessed all the days of your
life.
Psalm 37:23 The LORD
directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. NLT
Galatians 5:25 If we
live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Matthew 5:43-45 You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your
neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who
persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father
in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He
sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. NLT
Psalm 33;20-21 And though the Lord gives you the bread of
adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself
any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will
hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to
the right hand and when you turn to the left. AMP
John 13:17 If you know
these things, you are blessed if you do them.
I Thessalonians 2:12 so
that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom
and glory.
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