Footprints

This morning, as I was beginning my morning devotions in prayer and asking the Holy Spirit to guide my way through this day, I had the image of footprints. I love the very popular ‘Footprints’ poem that I know you must all be familiar with. However, this particular image of footprints did not bring me to the poem and its’ well known meaning. It is true that Jesus is most definitely helping to carry me through this dark and difficult time in my life, which would mean that often there would be just one set of footprints in my line of vision. Today, as I prayed, I could see myself taking each careful step through the day, purposefully seeking to match the footprints laid out before me. At times these steps are easy to take, my feet just naturally fall into the prints while, at other times, I must stop and catch myself from falling out of step. During the pause, I am able to seek counsel and direction, before mindlessly trudging ahead into uncharted territory. At other times I get so caught up in the journey I don’t stop to take these necessary pauses, which results in my day landing far off course. At least, far from the course that God has planned for me. I praise Him and thank Him for His mercy and grace, as He waits expectantly for me to, once again, look toward Him to guide my steps. More often than not lately, my steps would not make my old marching band proud, let alone my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In recent days I have found myself stuck in the muddled footprints of fear and anxiety, only to blindly leap into a huge puddle of mistrust and disobedience. It’s true I am quick to confess these sins as I cry out to God, but just as quick to fall back into them. As I once again confessed my fears and anxieties to God today, He led me to this passage from 1 John 1: 5-6:

“This is the message we have from him and declare to you, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But it 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.”

What a glorious way to begin my day, with this reminder that there truly is no darkness with God. He goes before me, lighting my way, patiently waiting for me to invite Him into my day. When I do so, I deny myself and my own selfish, destructive path, and follow in His perfect, blameless footprints.

God bless you all my friends!