Step By Step

Good Morning!! In our Christian life, we start in the basement, at the bottom of a staircase. Our main goal is to get up to the top floor. When we're first beginning to ascend, the climb seems to go smooth,...easy almost fast. After all, the need for change is so evident, and our reasons for coming to Christ are clear. I mean; who wants or expects to stay on the bottom step? As we keep climbing, sometimes we wonder if we will ever make it to the top. Our muscles ache,...we pray for an elevator or escalator, anything to make the climb easier. But God makes sure that we have to consciously make a choice, to go to the next level.

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,—Hebrews 12:1b (NIV)

God is not in a rush, He waits patiently, lovingly, and relentlessly for us to get to where He wants us to be. If we look up at the number of stairs still left to climb,...it often seems overwhelming. So we cannot look at only the stairs. We must also look back, to appreciate how for we've come. We know that by looking down, we see what we have overcome,...just to get to, where we are now. After reaching some levels, we just need to rest. But we can't rest to long, or we may become so comfortable, that we no longer see a need to climb. There are even times when we just want to turn around, and go back,...even though we know that climbing back down, would be a mistake. Those of us who continue upward, know that the temptation to stop is not a valid option, because we hear the Lord calling us to keep coming. In our heart of hearts, we know that when we finally arrive, we will be so happy we kept climbing. There is no hurry, but no advantage to slowing down either.

Only by faith, and grace, do we keep climbing.

Father God, we pray for a steady pace, understanding each level and making a conscious decision to move up and onward. Because in our heart of hearts, we know that when we finally arrive, we will be so happy we kept on climbing. Thank You Jesus!

"True Christian love helps those who can't return the favor."