A Good Word Wednesday #69 STEP 🚶🏻♀️👣👟
A little bit of goodness, encouragement and hope in your mailbox today
Good Word of the Day: Step
Famous words about steps that you’ve heard before:
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Chinese Proverb
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Neil Armstrong
For me, my famous words about steps are: “Wow! I took 8,100 steps today!” That may not be a lot for you, but that was a lot for me. About twice more than what I usually get when I strive to walk a minimum of two miles a day.
The day that my smart watch displayed the impressive number of steps occurred when I visited the zoo last week with my family including three of my grandchildren. By the end of the day, I was the exhausted grandma sitting with the baby on a bench under a shade tree. I didn’t know if I would make the final steps uphill to the exit and the car. But I survived.
It got me thinking about steps of faith in the Christian life. When I worked for an international anti-trafficking nonprofit, we measured spiritual progress of the women we worked with. What did that look like? It could have meant the women began asking more questions about how to be a believer. Or, they attended a church worship service. Or they wanted to learn to pray or read the Bible.
There are several stories about taking steps of faith in the scripture. Such as:
Peter steps out of the boat to walk on the water toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:22-33) It started with one bold step out of security onto the waves. It may not have turned out great for him, but he at least took a step.
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) came to himself and turned toward home. It started with one step out of the pig pen. And the Father made steps to meet his wayward son. In fact, his steps turned into a run. I included in the list below a link to the video, “When God Ran.”
When we take those steps of faith, what can we expect? It could mean: Encountering risk. Facing fear. Enduring storms. Experiencing setbacks. But it also means stepping into a richer, deeper faith-filled life with Jesus. And that’s when it’s worth taking that first step.
What steps have you taken that have deepened your faith walk?
Wednesday in the Word
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6“Establish my footsteps in Your word,
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133“The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him.” Psalm 37:23
Share Your Good Words
Good Questions of the Week: What are steps of faith that are important in your journey with Jesus?
Good Unseen People
Photo: She Is Safe
The following excerpt is from a story that will be included in my upcoming book, Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life with Your Neighbors and the Nations. I’ve also got some fun news about my book! It sort of has a presence on Amazon and Goodreads already. Click the blue link below to see the progress of the book. When you get to the page, scroll down to THE UNSEEN PROCESS — How The Book, Unseen People Is Being Born #15.
What if the path ahead in my journey brings pain? How do I take the next step?
What if I need to rest and get a better vision of the future?
What if I let God direct my steps?
Read the full story here: Questions at the Crossroads
Good Words I Recommend
A Good Blog: A great place... a few steps away Welcome to my world!
A Good Book: Walking with God: How to hear His voice
Another Good Book: If You Want to Walk on Water, You have to get out of the boat
A Good Song: When God Ran This is such a song of hope. For all of you with prodigal children, this is for you.
A Final Good Word
I like to walk in my neighborhood. It’s mainly for my health but also when I take those steps, I like to talk with God. As I think about the journey He has led me on, nearby and far away, I’m thankful for it all. And I’m most thankful for the steps of Jesus. I will leave you this week with the lyrics of the old hymn, “Footsteps of Jesus.”
1 Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling,
"Come, follow Me!"
And we see where Thy footprints falling,
lead us to Thee.
Refrain:
Footprints of Jesus that make the pathway glow;
we will follow the steps of Jesus where’er they go.
2 Though they lead o’er the cold dark mountains,
seeking His sheep,
or along by Siloam’s fountains,
helping the weak. [Refrain]
3 If they lead through the temple holy,
preaching the Word,
or in homes of the poor and lowly,
serving the Lord. [Refrain]
4 Then at last, when on high He sees us,
our journey done,
we will rest where the steps of Jesus
end at His throne. [Refrain]
It is these good words that connect me with you. For that, I am profoundly grateful. Every day, my journey includes doing this…
“And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.” Isaiah 30:8
And this…
“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. Jeremiah 30:2
Until next week, please share a good word with someone today.
I’d love to hear from you. This is your chance to share with me whatever is on your heart today. Please share:
Contact me privately: deannalynnsanders@gmail.com.
Thank you for taking your valuable time to read my words. Please share a good word with someone today. Invite others into our Good Word family.
Gratefully yours,
Letting go of all i relied upon in the world; took Gid at His word and stepped out in faith, believing Him & that He would do what His Word says. Scary, but He IS faithful, even if not work out as i expected❣️
Superb post this week. Using step has so much meaning and relevance. Enjoyed this one. One positive step at a time. Thanks DeAnna for your time and dedication to this column.