This morning I decided I needed to go out and enjoy the snow
with “the young’uns”. Donning the heaviest clothes I could move around in I
stepped out onto the snow and gingerly made my way across the cement at our
front door. It was great! After walking around and throwing snowballs I noticed
that my left foot was hurting. Looking down to see what was wrong I saw that I
had gathered a huge ball of snow and leaves on the sole of my shoe. I knocked
it loose and walked some more. But both feet were gathering these piles of snow
and leaves. It impeded my ability to walk freely about. It was a lot of trouble
to stop every few moments and knock snow from the instep of my shoes.
Finally, cold and weary of the constant removal of shoe from
beneath my shoes, I went back inside to wait to help warm the first grandchild
who got too cold. It just wasn’t worth the trouble and I realized that although
the shoes were comfortable for regular walking, they weren’t meant for the
snow. I should have picked a different pair, one with a different tread and
sturdier ankles. I also realized that had I needed to walk a long way in the
snow I would have been in trouble with the shoes I had on. Preparation is
important. Without it I didn’t have as much freedom to enjoy the trek outdoors.
When we are born again we come into a kingdom where God has
provided everything we’ll ever need for life and godliness. Yet we often find
ourselves ill prepared for the situations that come our way. We tend to want to wear house shoes
everywhere. We prefer comfort. We like it. We’re God’s kids and we want it
easy. Sometimes we prefer ballet slippers. We want to pirouette through life as
though we’re all little princesses and princes. We are in fact God’s kids and
since He is the King we are in a sense royalty. But we’re meant to traverse
through hard times, rough times and rugged weather. We have to be prepared.
Neither house shoes nor ballet slippers will get us through when we need our
feet shod with rugged boots.
Thankfully we are blessed. We have an entire wardrobe
standing ready for us. We don’t have to go unprepared. We have every need for
every situation we find ourselves in. Others only have what they find for
themselves, but we have the entire council of God’s Word to choose from. He speaks
from Genesis to Revelation for our journey through life. All we have to do is
get prepared. And we become prepared by taking in the Word and keeping it
handy. We don’t know what we will encounter in the days ahead, but God does. So
He has provided us with just the right Word for just the right weather. If all
we insist on wearing is flip flops we’ll have a hard time in the winter of
life. We may know that we have been saved, but we need to know more. We need to
know that God will get us through. We can’t wait until times get hard to try to
find the right Words to help us through. We must prepare ahead.
Oh beloved, are you struggling with the situation you are
in? Did you find yourself in the midst of adversity and see that you are ill
prepared to walk it out in faith? Are you wondering why it has happened? Did
you fail to hear the weather report that all will have to walk through tough
times and blustery weather? It’s not too late! You can still make it. Just stop
in to God’s Wonderful Shop of Truth and let Him fit you with the proper Word
for this time in your life. If you will come aside and spend some time with the
Lord, reading His Word, searching for the right fit, He will lead you into all
truth. And the truth you put on for your
present circumstances will get you there and you will walk through in freedom
and grace. You are not meant to stumble
or be hobbled in life, but you are called to walk freely in His Word fully
prepared for whatever you may encounter.
God loves you and He’s for you. That’s why you can trust Him
to lead you into all truth so that, even when the going gets tough, you will walk
in the freedom of His truth. There will be better days of flip flops, house
shoes and slippers. But it’s wonderful for you to know that you don’t have to
walk hampered as you live in the light of His Word.
Psalm 119:45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your
precepts. NLT
Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal
bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will
make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make
[spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!
Amplified Bible
Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your
truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. NLT
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is
useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our
lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to
do every good work. NLT
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