Are My Feet Too Small?

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23 NKJV

When a baby is born watchful parents take note of its growth–they watch how fast their feet grow, how much weight they gain and much longer they get. It’s really a little difficult to miss the growth of a baby since they need new clothes often and especially shoes by the time they start walking.

Sometimes, silly parents–of which I am one–when playing with children compare their hand size and feet size to them. Yes, I know, but it’s a fun game and kids get a kick out of it, watching how big their hands and feet get–compared to their parents.

However, there are some parents who take the game farther–sometimes out of reach of the child when they expect their children to keep up with them–either walking or in their endeavors in life. I hate seeing a mother dragging a toddler along, expecting them to keep up with when the child’s feet are too small and their stride too short to keep up with the mother. As they get older and parent gets more demanding–they expect things of a child that they are either too small to do or too immature to know how to do. This is especially true of parents (or grandparents) who expect a lot from teenagers. The frontal lobe of our brains are not fully developed until we’re about 23-25 years old. So, when we yell at teenagers about doing stupid things, it’s because they don’t know better in many cases. After all, we’re judging their actions by our experiences–experiences they have not had.

So, since God has ordered the steps of the righteous and delights in us–when we stumble and fall by the wayside is it because our feet are too small to stay on the path He has established? Or is it that–the steps He’s ordered are way too big for us to navigate? Either way, I think we can take an object lesson from looking at who He is and His expectations of us and how we treat kids. The physiology of a person may interfere with their maturity on a physical and moral level, but how long does it take us to develop into spiritually mature Believers? Do we make it  at 25 years-old and or is it much older? Some never make it because once they look at the size of their feet–and realize their feet may be too small–they take another path–one that usually leads to destruction.

God’s expectations of us are not too great–after all–He created us and He knows exactly when our feet will fit the path He’s established. The problem is–most of us don’t and so we sit back and complain, angry with God and the world because we have not realized what size our feet are.

I’ve often threatened my children and my students (figuratively) to put my size 10s up their hind parts if they didn’t get their act together and move towards succeeding in life. I’ve always been teased about having big feet, but when I realize just how awesome the path is that God wants me to travel, I know my feet need to grow some. My prayer for spiritual maturity is constant because every time I think I’ve made some progress, a challenge arises and I know, I haven’t made it yet.

God knows my foot size and the path He has established fits–I just have to figure out how to plant my feet firmly and not be moved by circumstances in order to continue the journey. How about you? Are your feet too small?

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Why Faith In God? Part 3

“Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.” (Matthew 21:21 NIV) “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:10 NIV)

Notice how important it is to use “our mouths” to proclaim our faith. Jesus said, “You can say…” and Paul tells us, “With your mouth you profess your faith…” So, conversely, if we don’t “say” we won’t see our faith exercised or receive what we won’t say. This is why it is important for us to watch those things we say. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” We can use our tongues which are in our mouths–to speak life to our lives with our faith in God or we can speak death to our lives with negative confessions, expressing doubt. It’s up to us–remember–according to our faith–it will be what we say it will be.

Understanding the power we have with our tongues and expression of our faith, why would we contribute to having no ability to do anything worthwhile for others?

We can exercise our faith in God, by saying–“No weapon formed against us shall prosper” when we get that negative report from doctors. “By His stripes, I am healed.”  “There is no name above the name of Jesus,” and sickness and disease have names that are covered under the blood. And then we do everything we can to live a healthy life. There is no point in saying something, just to say it, now we have something we need to do.

We don’t have to be afraid of anything, so when the enemy attempts to ignite fear in us, we say “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind” and then move out in the power of His might!

We never have to accept defeat in any endeavor when we say, “I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me,” and then keep trying to accomplish whatever it is we’re trying to accomplish, until we do it right.

We can have what we say, when we refuse to allow negativity to enter into our minds and we keep professing we have what it is we need, no matter what things look like. Don’t allow what you see to determine what you speak! God created the world in seven days and there is nothing too hard for Him to do for those He loves and for those who complete faith is in Him!

Hallelujah, Jesus! Thanking Him for our needs being met, over and above anything we need so we will have surplus to assist others. Thanking Him for healing bodies with the same healing virtue used to heal the woman with the issue of blood. Thanking Him for protecting the vulnerable, and comforting hearts, and speaking to the hearts of those who commit evil. We may not see it the evidence, but we can rest assured that God hears us and knows everything about everything.

The one thing He will not do–is force anyone to do anything they do not want to do. So, while our faith in God is assured, we must also know that He gives free-will choice to the saved and unsaved, leaving all to the consequences of their choices.

Part 4 tomorrow!

Make Room for the Blessings!

Paul tells us in The Word that we have not seen everything that God has in store for us, who love Him.  We haven’t even been told everything that awaits us. What we do know is that if the Blessings enumerated in Deuteronomy do not tell the whole story, we must make room to receive all that has not been said!  Hallelujah–expectations widening, now!