“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. –Chinese Proverb

A step is nothing big. Many wouldn’t notice you taking an average sized step on an average day in an average place. People do it all the time. But what about the first step onto the moon? Neil Armstrong said of this first step, “One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

What about Peter’s first step after he looked away from Christ on the water? When he focused on the crazy wind, that first step of doubt instead of faith sent him plunging into the storm-driven waters. Jesus asked Peter, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

While we can see that some steps may be more important than others, we must understand that every step matters to God. Psalms 37:23 tells us, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Knowing that God cares about our steps is a great comfort to us when our steps seem shaky, but it’s scary when we’re unsure of what step we’re to take or when a particular section of our way seems dark and foreboding. We know the direction we go determines our destination, but the going seems lonely and makes us feel unsure of our choices sometimes. How do you know which steps to take and which steps to walk away from?

1. Understand that God has a purpose for our steps and for our destinations. Elizabeth Elliot once said, “Either we are adrift in chaos or we are individuals, created, loved, upheld and placed purposefully, exactly where we are.” Do you understand that God, Who knows all, knew the decisions you would make the moment He decided before time began to allow you the free will to make them? Knowing the results of your decisions before you ever made them allows God to prepare you and those in your life for those decisions. It allows Him to work His perfect will for you. Psalms 18:36 puts it this way: “Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.” You’re not on your own out there: we’re not wandering the great abyss called life on our own. Each step that we determine to make in integrity and uprightness is a step supported and led by our God.
2. Determine to make your steps on purpose. If you were placed here on this earth, you clearly remain here to serve a purpose, but it’s up to you to determine what purpose that will be. So many of use wander through our lives aimlessly, hoping for good results while complaining about it being Mondays and waiting until Fridays to be happy. We complain about not having friends and not feeling close to God, but spend all our free time in our second-day-wearing sweatpants and Netflix&chill. If you’re going to do great big things with your steps and have your way lead towards a strong purpose and a strong influence on this world, you must determine your way on purpose for that purpose. I want all of us girls to be able to say as the Psalmist did in Psalms 37:23, “My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.“ Determine your destination, or the end goal, and go get it. Stop waiting around for someone else to walk for you! I feel like I should definitely have that written on my mirror… and my car windshield… and my computer screen at work. It’s too easy to forget that we’re here to have purpose in our daily living and choices.
3. Keep your balance to avoid falls. Job 31:4-6 says, “Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.” Ever hear the phrase, “Too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing?” Well, if we spend all our time reading our Bibles (the stepping instructional manual) and none of our time living out the love so clearly displayed in those Bibles, we’re never going to get anywhere. It’s important that we keep our balance when we’re stepping in God’s way. By balancing how I’m spending my time, what my priorities for each day will be, and thinking about what my body, mind, and soul need to be healthy in a particular day, we’re able to step without falling. I can remember about two years ago, I wasn’t making the priorities I said with my mouth priorities I lived with my life. I was tired, depressed, and weary because I was throwing all of my time and effort into a ministry that wasn’t on my list of priorities. And you know what? It was my own fault. I had allowed my service to go out of balance with my body’s lack of strength and my soul’s deep desire for more time with God. A person who’s really balancing the purpose and priorities God has for their steps will not have to fake a happy face. And to be honest, most of our really bad at faking happy anyways. Would you rather be really happy or fake happy? I’ll take the real deal every time. But real happiness comes with balancing health, time with God, and service for others. When we live balanced lives, God sees our integrity — which simply cannot be faked.

So how have your steps been lately? Are you walking in the direction that takes you to your desired destination? Are you feeling lonely in your way or do you understand that God’s right ahead of you? Are you balancing your life the way God would desire or is everything a little off kilter behind that forced smile? Remember, there’s power in a step and it’s never too late to take that step in the right way.

Love, Meghan