Psalm 59:16
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Please pray, asking God for understanding, and look up the scriptures provided.

Have you ever watched how little babies trying to learn to walk. They take a few short shaky steps, lose their balance, and plop down. They have not yet mastered the art of walking, for they move about with unsteady steps. They have to depend on someone to help them to stand and guide their steps as they learn the process of walking. Just as a little child has to learn how to walk, so we as God’s children have to learn how to walk with Him. He gives us spiritual strength to stand, He promises to work in our life until the end to make you more like Jesus Christ ‘His Son’. He will give us His Spirit to guide us, for He desires all of His children to walk with Him. Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  To learn spiritual “walk” with God is an expression for “developing seeds of fellowship and obedience according to His word: Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Do you have a desire for Him to be your companion on life’s road, trusting Him to provide enough from day to day? David, king of Israel, wrote Psalm 26:2, the need to have his heart examined—a spiritual examination. “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.” He recognized that, although he tried walking in integrity, he needed God’s redemption and mercy. Have you considered examining yourself while traveling on life’s road with the Lord?

While on life’s journey are you “seeking God’s face”? How do we do that? We cannot see His face literally, for no man has seen God except for the Son. “No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.” (John 6:46) But, since you and I cannot see God with our physical eyes, how do we do it? We seek God by walking with Him daily and going to Him in heartfelt prayer. We seek His face by talking to Him and giving Him our full attention. No one likes talking to people who are at the same time texting on their phones or checking their social media updates. Why would God not feel the same about half-hearted or distracted prayers? We cannot multitask with God! If we are doing that, we are not really obeying the great command to really put God first. Jesus Christ described the “great commandment” as: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37–38). Are we doing that? Sometimes we have difficulty seeking God’s face because we have something blocking our vision (could it be our sins). The prophet Isaiah explained, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1–2). Are we growing increasingly far from possessing any sort of fear (not about being terrified, but rather giving Him honor and about acknowledging His authority and holiness) or –any sort of awe or reverence for Him or desire to do His commandments and obey Him? Deuteronomy 10:13 states His commandments are for our good.

When we sin or are disobedient, our shame and fear can make it difficult for us to go to God and we do not want to look at Him when we know we have disappointed Him. We sometimes doubt that He would accept us in our present state. Yet that is precisely when we need to earnestly repent and seek Him without delay! When reading the account in John 8:11 (the woman that was caught in the act of adultery by the scribes and Pharisees), do we only pay attention to the first and last part of the scripture of what Jesus said: “Neither do I condemn you,” and, “sin no more.” But how many ever pay close attention to the first word in Christ’s command: “Go”? “Sin no more,” our Savior says, but also, “Go.” Referring to move forward, this means we are not to stay here in our mind, wallowing in this time and place, letting the memories of our sin (whether past or present) hold us captive. Whatever we’ve done, however grievously we’ve disobeyed our Savior, the response He expects of us is to genuinely repent, ask His forgiveness, believe Him when He says He does not condemn us, go, and sin no more. We’re almost never more vulnerable to future sin than when our minds are enveloped in past sin. Paul says: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14).

As the Apostle John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This enables us to once again go to our loving Father, to walk with Him and renew a face-to-face relationship. Yes, we cannot see God, but we know He is there—for the whole universe testifies to His existence (Psalm 19:1)!

There are people described as “walking with God” in the Bible, for example, Enoch in Genesis 5:24. Noah is also described as “a righteous man, among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. (Genesis 6:9). Abraham, leaving his father, walked with God and yet did not know where he was being led to, but He trusted in God’s voice. David, not only walked with God, but had psalms of admiration (read Psalm 119). Micah 6:8 gives us a hint into God’s desire for us: “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.”  To walk with God means there may be times we may have to choose not to walk with people who disregard the ways of God, trying to persuade you in what they think, and many will say to you follow your heart, encouraging us to trust yourself, live your truth, follow your instincts. But, do these sayings align with what Jesus teach, and what the Bible teaches as to the best way to live. When we start trusting in what others think, or in our own heart we can become blind to our faults and misguided ideas. This can lead to pride, or vanity, which manifests itself in arrogance, conceit or self-righteousness. If we humble ourselves and submit to God, He will draw near to us and with God so near we can learn and be better able to “purify our hearts with righteous intents or thoughts”. Jesus said “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, [and] blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19). These wrong thoughts defile us. It is easier to discard a wrong thought before it takes root and grows, just as it is easier to pull a newly sprouted weed than a weed allowed to grow and sink deep roots. The Bible makes it plain that the characteristic that prevents and controls the dark side of humanity is humility. “Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8).

 It should be the thoughts of God that should lead you, moving alongside Him in unity and faith of Christ Jesus as you pass through your life’s journey; for sometimes the unknown can be a little scary. With the armor of God we must be ‘spiritually in shape’ ready to answer the summons to ‘Fight!’ or ‘Do Battle!’ when the truth of God is attacked, a time to fight for the faith. Let not your faith stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Let’s not look upon the ones who try to sway you as an enemy, but encourage and pray for him as a brother. We may wholeheartedly disagree with a lot of what they may say and do—but to Jesus they’re not worthless, for He became a sacrifice and died for all mankind. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14).

We should humble ourselves before God, accepting His correction and learn from the Divine being who is all wise and all knowing. Proverbs 3:5-7 says “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. “ Try to meditate and take delight in God’s words daily, though at times our fleshly mind rebels against God, and will not submit to the laws and commands that God revealed for our good (Romans 8:7). God’s laws represent a way of life that forms an integral part of the journey to eternal life. For the most part, focusing on God and following His lead will keep you on the right path which leads to everlasting life in His coming Kingdom.

Walking with God is like walking with a close friend (talking, laughing, listening, and sharing your heart). When we enter into an intimate heart relationship with Him through faith in His Son (Hebrews 10:22), He becomes our heart’s greatest desire. Knowing Him, hearing His voice, sharing our hearts with Him, and seeking to please Him become our all-consuming focus. He becomes everything to us and you are in harmony, and enjoying the peaceful togetherness; for He will touch your heart to let you know you are not alone in your journey of life. Meeting with Him is not an activity reserved for the Sabbath morning. We live to fellowship with Him everyday because He wants to part of your everyday life. Our journey with God requires letting go of our past and our pride, or anything that would be a distraction (having an attitude that separates one from God) which may harm you. Replacing God with the fruit of this world in your heart can (if you allow it) become a priority in your life which can lead to satisfaction in the wrong places and away from God. Don’t be so fixated on what is going on around you that you miss what God is doing with you. The commandments of God is a map, which explains where the safe path is and where to not to walk to avoid pitfalls.

Many people attempt to walk with God in this confused world, sometime it turns out to be a very short walk, for cares or worries of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, our trials, our pains, our losses, and our crushing disappointments can cause one to go off course. Peter said he compared his physical body to a tent—good for a temporary shelter against the rain, wind, and storms of life, but eventually it wears out.  (2 Peter 1:12–14). So, don’t be discouraged when you see bad things happen, for God wants us to learn and understand that our life is just a short journey, and then there is something better coming.

Know for certainty we have God’s promise that His plan is unfolding.  (Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”). The Psalmist (David) understood this when he wrote Psalm 33:10: “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” Remember “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

To walk with God means that you are in agreement with Him, you have aligned your will with His and seek His presence every day about your life. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). You don’t have to be perfect, as none of us are (Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”), for God’s Spirit will help us in our weakness, so our heart’s desire is to be pleasing to Him, for in all things God works for the good of those who love him according to His purpose; for He will leave his footprints on your heart if you let him. (Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.).

 We are all on a journey. Life is a journey, beginning at birth, filled with choices. We are all headed somewhere. At times, we are not certain where life’s journey will take us. When the Word of God speaks of “walking,” it often refers to a life-style; this means a lifestyle of Trust. In the New Testament, walking with God is often called “walking in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:4). To walk with Him means we choose to exalt Him, regardless of personal cost; and at times there may be a cost, friends or family turning away, not agreeing with your manner of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness (“But I say to you, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) , but as you have chosen to walk His way, let your every breath utter praise, for He is worth living for. We must decide to let go of the direction we choose to walk, letting go of harmful decisions made by others and trust in God’s word, this attitude requires a change of heart and mind that comes only from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (the power that flows out from God the Father and Jesus Christ). In our hearts we may have planned our course, but it is the Lord who establishes and direct our steps (Proverbs 16:9). We must seek to eliminate from our lives everything that does not enhance our walk with Him, for our lives are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.); it is not for us to direct our steps, and live to please our sinful flesh. (Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh”). During our journey with God, His ways are reflected in our thoughts, our actions, our motivations, and our life choices, because we spend so much time with Him, we will begin to reflect the image of Christ, for He left us an example of how to follow in His steps; and then we can become like stars in a nighttime sky. (Philippians 2:15 “so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky”).

We can identify people who walk with God, for their lives are a stark contrast to the world around them, in other words, they do not act or speak the same as the world does. In Acts 4:13 Peter and John had been arrested for teaching about Jesus and were brought before the authorities, and the members of the high priests family could tell they had been with Jesus. “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” When we walk with God every day, the world cannot help but recognize that, in spite of our imperfections and lack of knowledge in some areas, we have been spending time with God and in His word, and walking in the light of life of Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) and “he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35). Christ came as a light into the world so that we should not live in darkness (John 12:46). Followers of Christ are told to “cast off the works of darkness” and “put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). God’s word, shines His light—through sincere prayer made by those obedient to God’s will and will not go unseen by God. Diligent prayer even for those who may be your enemies goes a long way with God (Matthew 5:43–45). If we force ourselves to make the effort, the path to forgiveness, resolution and true peace of mind becomes clear and well lit. We shine the light of mercy on others, and in so doing, God will shine it on us. Once God shines His light into your eyes, and you trust in Him (Isaiah 50:10), the door is opened for you never to walk in darkness. We need to follow Christ to know what truly is good and what is evil. Clothed in Jesus’ love, with His peace ruling in our heart, you are equipped to make Christ first in very area of life.

How do we strengthen our friendship with God? How do we walk with Him every day? We need to regularly meet with God and spend quality time to get to know Him more intimately. Yet, while we can enjoy closeness with God, our intimacy with Him is also built on a deep reverence or respect for Him. Listen to Him tell us what’s on His heart. The Bible says, The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.(Psalm 25:14). Rejoice at His counsel and trust His corrections, and there will be corrections, for we are disobedient people. “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice” (Proverbs 27:9) The steps of a man are established by the Lord in His word, when he delights in his way. Deuteronomy 10:12 says  “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”

As we journey on this earth, let us not become like the people of Jeremiah’s time: “My people have forgotten me, days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32). Jesus is the Light of this World and when we keep to God’s path, our steps are established and firm by the Lord, even if we do not know where we are going. Psalm 37:23-24 “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; “though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” During our journey we will experience trials or hardships, resentment from others, resulting in difficult choices (for we are not exempt from troubles); but remember, the very suffering we experience, we taste a small portion of the bitter cup Jesus endured when he was hung on the cross for the sake of our sins. Did Christ just “grit His teeth” and “force” His will to do the right thing? No! What allowed Him to pass this excruciating test was His willingness to surrender to the will and the power of the Father. As we surrender our lives in true obedience to the One who made us, we too can possess His spiritual power. Paul wrote to the brethren in Philippi, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12–13). If we seek and obey Him, God will work through us “to will and to do” His will in our lives. We can overcome; we can direct our spirit and our actions. Through God’s help, we can have all the willpower we need.

True followers of Jesus Christ know they are subject to attack and must wage spiritual battles daily in their defense and in carrying out the will of God to grow in righteous character. To be a soldier of Jesus Christ requires complete commitment. We need God’s guidance: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). There will be times when we must also fight a war against our human nature (Romans 7:23) and fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11), which Satan uses to try to defeat us. But, we cannot fight a spiritual war with physical weapons, as explained in 2 Corinthians 10:3–6. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” In Ephesians 6:10–18, we see specific equipment of spiritual warfare, “the whole armor of God” listed: our waist girded with truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the only offensive weapon mentioned, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God—the Holy Bible and its truths.

The choices we make affect our character and will change us. To change the way we think, change the influences that are going in and dominate our thinking (change what is going in our eye gate, ear gate, and what is coming out of our mouth). Sometimes, in our personal lives, we need to stop and allow “emotional traffic” to pass. This gives precious time to think before making a decision, just as the stop sign gives us time to assess our surroundings before we again begin to drive. So we will need to stop and assess our choice to make a decision to exercise our wills to His, the will and character of our Father and Jesus Christ. When we allow God to convert our will, we begin to choose as He does. His Holy Spirit will be working in us daily, transforming us to become more and more like Him, as He works to build His holy, righteous character in each of us. Putting God’s word into practice in our life now, and leaning on His promises one can develop strength and courage for the challenges they will face during their journey. Spend time with Him in prayer, studying His word, follow His guidance, obey His commandments and have faith in Him. This will help you to grow closer to Him and walk in His light. Psalm 119:105 says Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Life’s journey is filled with choices:

• Joy and pain.
• Ups and downs.
• Hopes and disappointments.
• Questions and answers.
• Faith and fear.
• Wins and losses.
• Wondering or wandering.
• Promises yet to be fulfilled.

At times in life, we will make some bad choices and or wrong decisions; however, we can always get back on the right path if we will seek the Lord with all our heart, obedient in His word and you will come to know the plans God has for us. The Bible tells us to try as hard as possible to be obedient.

His plan for your life may not align with the personal desires or plans you have held on to for years. Truth is personal desires and worldly desires can get in the way of God’s plan.

As we continue our journey with God it may feel at times as if we are going upstream, against a current, for we will be walking against the flow to how the world thinks or acts, but at the same time we will be learning to focus on where to place our foot dictated by the word of God. As we consult with Him, He will help us to know where we should direct our feet in life’s journey. God is Love and whosoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. Jesus walks ahead. He leads the way. And he bids us to come and join him. God used the footsteps Christ’s disciples to bring His word to the world.

The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:3, 12). A Christian needs training in the knowledge of God’s way. Jesus was a teacher of His disciples, saying, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Paul said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Are you walking in faith and victory? Set your eyes on the promises of God. We must each ask ourselves, “Which route will lead me to God’s Kingdom?” Changing course—especially over a mole hill we are treating as a mountain—may leave us building a bridge to nowhere. Leave your past with all its entanglements behind. Do not stop halfway. Galatians 6:9 says: “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up”. As we struggle in this journey of life, one must never give up striving for the “stature of the fullness of Christ”. The reward truly will be worth it (Revelation 21:7)!

Let not our heart become hardened by unbelief, grumbling, and refusal to heed God’s voice, it may not be easy at times, but try not to respond to trials in this way, but to encourage one another daily so that hardship convert our hearts into a state of unbelief, shutting us out of God’s rest. The question then is, will we allow our environment to weaken our character or harden our hearts? Or will we make a difference in the world around us, despite the ever-present trials of life? We are called to transform our environment by the example we set, especially in unpleasant circumstances. We are to permeate our surroundings with Christ-like character and good works, for Jesus Christ calls His followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13–16). As our lives “add flavor” and “shine,” we will bring glory to our Father in heaven. The storms of life will come! Only those who choose to build their life on the word of God will be able to persevere and not be weakened or hardened. Today, let’s be the person who, while everyone else is bitter and critical, reflect Jesus’ love and spread encouragement.

The Bible tells us the path leading to life is “narrow,” while the path leading to destruction is “broad.” “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13–14). So, when you face a trial—or when you are teaching your children to face a problem—remember we are given time on earth to develop a relationship with God and learn to trust Him through Jesus Christ. Through leaning on Him and asking for His help, we see how He strengthens and encourages us.

There may be times we get separated from the path we are on and attach ourselves to the wrong hand for a guide. Whenever we feel that this has happened, it may be time to look up and see where we are and who we are attached to. We are reminded in 1 John 2:15-16: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

Let’s take the time in our busy life to look up occasionally and see whose hand you are holding, and never let go of the hand holding us and mistakenly take hold of another. If we walk with God, we must walk in love, for God is Love. If we fellowship with God during our journey, we must walk in His light and not in darkness, for God is Light. During our fellowship with God we will want to possess His quality of life, for God is Life. So, I ask, ‘whose hand are you holding during your journey on earth, is it the world or God’s?’ We are responsible for our actions but also realized that there is help available to you from God. The prayer of David in Psalm 17:5 read as: “Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.” You see David had learned that his plans, his future, and even his life would be on a slippery slope if he did not have God’s guidance. In every aspect of our life, we can come to understand the direction of our feet, the weight of our actions, is dictated by the word of God. God’s word from His mouth is more precious than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. “My life is my journey with God. It may be hard sometimes but I am assured it would be all worth it, so I let my focus be on where I am placing my foot.”

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”
“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Proverbs 4:26 records the words of King Solomon: “Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.”

Seek God’s hand for your path in life!