The “STOPS” of the Lord
Just a note of encouragement …….
Psalm 37:23 “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way”. This verse is a rah-rah verse! We grab hold of it and speak it out loud and by faith expect to see God come through. We, for some reason think, “Well, I’m saved by the Grace of God and now I will skip right along into my destiny!! I picture kind of like the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz! “Just follow the yellow brick road” (just follow the Holy Spirit). But here’s a thought you might want to ponder…..God DOES order our steps as we have made Him our Lord and Savior. He indeed leads us down our own individual paths for our distinct callings…..but God not only orders our steps ….. He lovingly orders our STOPS as well!! Along our journey in life we are on our way to our destinies God has ordained for each of us. And along that path there will be STOPS we will have to make and usually it is because it is a learning opportunity!! Actually all “the stops” we make are learning opportunities!! Ya see, the scriptures tell us that we are “being transformed into the image of Christ!”(2 Corinthians 3:18). The amplified version says we are “progressively being transformed“…..one degree after another. In understanding this…. we need to both understand this transformation is progressive as well as unexpected at times!! When sweet little Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz started on down her “yellow brick road” journey ….I’m sure she never anticipated the stops she would make (the lion, the tin man, and the scarecrow) before actually getting to where she wanted to go!! We also see the relentless pursuit of the “wicked witch” as Dorothy was trying to make it there! This is quite a mirror of our journeys as the enemy of our soul (the devil) relentlessly pursues us while we walk through this life pursuing the plan of God for ourselves. Have you noticed the “STOPS”, the “PAUSES”, the “DELAYS” in your walk?? Well, take heart….. we are in great company….the Apostle Paul, as well as all the disciples endured plenty of these stops or delays!! Remember we are NOT TRANSLATED into the image of God….we are TRANSFORMED degree after degree after degree or should I say…..stop after stop after stop!! So, as God orders your steps……AND YOUR STOPS…..embrace them…..ask Him what you are to learn in those places!! Some times we are at those places longer than we’d like to be …. but stay focused on the Lord and HE will guide you through!!! These stops are where we learn and grow!! SELAH!!!!
