A Good Word Wednesday #26 👣☀️

Walk in the light

Last week, I revealed my words for the year. We started with Wait in which I revealed the wait is over with some very big news. Go back and read #25 if you want to know what that meant for me. My 5 Ws and H words for 2023: Wait, Walk, Water, Worship, Wisdom and Help. And my bonus word: Resilient.

Good Word of the Week: WALK

Walking is my exercise of choice. It’s good for my diabetic self. I love walking in my neighborhood and attempt to get in 30 minutes of walking five days a week. My Garmin smartwatch lets me know how well I’m doing and how many steps I’m taking every day. Walking is good for me physically but also helps my mood and even helps my spiritual life.

I have long been a fan of prayer walking. In fact, many years ago, I took a small mission team from my church to Birmingham, England specifically to walk and pray throughout those busy streets and especially concentrating on the South Asian section of the city. We prayed for specific opportunities to open for our missionaries to serve. The population was primarily Muslim people from Bangladesh and Pakistan. Lots and lots of prayers were offered during those few days. When I returned home, a church deacon reminded me that it was a very long way to go just to pray (and very expensive). And asked, “Couldn’t you pray here?” I smiled sweetly (I’m sure) and said, “Yes. Yes we could.” But I went on to explain that there is something special and personal about praying on the actual site—seeing the people, smelling their air, eating their food. And interacting with and encouraging our missionaries. It offered us insight we would never have gained just looking at pictures on Google comfortably at home.

That commitment to walk and pray has carried over to my normal lifestyle. When I walk in my neighborhood, I don’t listen to music, or podcasts, or talk on the phone. I choose to pray for the people and families behind those doors. I ask Him to give me insight on how to pray for them.

Walking with Christ is a description of following Him through discipleship. It includes Bible study, prayer, worship, serving and sharing Christ, etc. What does walking with Christ look like for you on a normal day? What are elements of your daily faith walk?

Wednesday in the Word

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 5:7

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (NOTE: To my Sunday School class at FBC Duncan, heads up! Micah is likely our next book to study together after we finish James!)

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (NOTE: The two young women in my discipleship group, Katie and Emily, chose to memorize all of Psalm 23 last year, in addition to the other 51 selected memory verses. Such powerful words of wisdom to carry with you in your memory for your walk through life with Christ.)

New Section — Good Unseen People

Welcome to this new section in my newsletter each week. As announced, my book, Unseen People, will be published later this year. I’ve devoted a whole page on my new website to highlight updates in the publishing process. Please come visit my new site! (NOTE: Let me know you visited and I will send you the introduction to the book. Free!)

Here I will feature one of the stories that will be printed in the book. Join me on a walk in my neighborhood in this story: What is Behind that Door? Probably should be titled, Who is Behind that Door? Do you know the people on your street?

Good Words I Recommend

A Good Book: Live in Grace, Walk in Love, Bob Goff. We aren’t too far into the new year yet if you want to start a daily devotional book. Check out this one by Bob Goff.

A Good Site:

Another Good Book: Walking with God by John Eldridge. Join John on a walk through a year and what he learned on his journey.

A Final Word

I remember singing the hymn, “Footsteps of Jesus,” when I was growing up in Baptist churches. Do you remember the words? The chorus is “Footprints of Jesus that make the pathway glow; we will follow the steps of Jesus where’er they go.” If you want a blast from the past, here you go. The lyrics are printed below the video.

I do hope and pray for you this year, that as you walk with Christ, you will follow Him wherever He leads you. Let me know how I can pray for you on your journey. Deannalynnsanders@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.

As always, share a Good Word with someone today. Until next Wednesday!

Gratefully yours,