know me by His scars.

I was encouraged (that’s the word I’m choosing, and I’m sticking to it) to get moving on my next blog post. This morning (after a delayed start), I felt similarly prompted (and graced with a topic), so here I am. Being a doer, not just a hearer, practicing what I preach:

Following where the Spirit leads. Day by day, wherever that may be.

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life… Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” – Psalm 143:8,10 (NIV)

The thing that always strikes me the most when I spend time mulling what it means to follow my Maker’s call, is that He always makes it very clear what the next step is.

And by next step I mean just that. The picture ahead is veiled, foggy. All the steps in-between here and the final destination of being face to face with our Creator, who other than He can know?! But what’s before me, just the actual literal next step? It’s always right there waiting for me.

That doesn’t mean I get it, that it makes sense, that I understand or know where this is headed – if I’m being honest here, I rarely do.

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12

The current blur is intentional. Should be expected. Divinely appointed. We aren’t meant to know or carry the why’s and how’s of Elohim’s plans.

And sometimes it’s okay to lay some fleeces for what’s ahead; it doesn’t make your actions any less of a step of faith. But then you need to take the step. You need to do the next thing.

We cannot rely on ourselves for this – the Word makes it very clear we need to be taught to do His will. Which means it’s not something that comes naturally. NO ONE just wakes up an amazing godly person just ready to strive on their own all day every day – and if they think they do? They’re not going to get very far. We’re all sinners, we are saved by grace alone, and He is our sufficiency.

Daily waging war against the law of our minds, daily choosing the cross, daily dying to ourselves. Daily taking the next step as it’s revealed to us – writing a blog post, sending a text, getting dressed for the day, changing the wet toddler sheets from an early morning accident – the next thing. One after the other. We move forward, we press in, we run the race set before us.

Not the race in the distant or not so distant future. That’s the end game, where we can set our eyes, but not where we need to BE. Yet. For now, it’s what’s right in front of us, right now, right where He has us in this moment. Where He will give us exactly what we need for this exact time.

As we’re following, the doubts will come, the questions, the uncertainties; it’s human nature. We might even get to the point of wondering what we’re even doing. If we’re even actually following at all. But the Spirit keeps confirming. There is no conviction demanding a turn around, no shame trying to hide something in the soul that’s out of union with its Maker. This is indeed the Way, though we may not understand it.

Progress always comes with Resistance. Here the enemy is resisting hard; this must be something BIG Yah-Sabaoth is doing. Because the enemy doesn’t like to waste resources on people who are doing a good enough job fighting the Maker’s will on their own.

So when you get to these crossroads, it’s important to recognize it. Don’t be unaware of the schemes of the adversary, the contender. Be ready.

Fight. That’s what ‘contend’ means. Ready for battle, with the full armor on, knowing full well that “[He] will contend with those who contend with you, and your children [He] will save.” – Isaiah 49:25b (NIV)

Sometimes the next step is just yielding the moment to Him. Pausing. Falling to your knees in grateful worship of the One who is orchestrating all things for the good for those who love Him and are called to His purposes.

Even when we don’t know exactly what those purposes are.

Though the road feels long now, it’s but a glimmer in light of the glorious eternity that awaits.

Stand firm.

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

“For, ‘In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.’ And, ‘But My righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.’

“But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” – Hebrews 10:36-39 (NIV)

And as we persevere, as we patiently endure, as we choose to follow, as we contend for our faith, there is victory. Because we rest in the shadow of the wing of the Victor.

“They triumphed over him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” – Revelation 12:11 (NIV)

Stop shrinking back. It’s time to lean in, press forward. “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way.” – Isaiah 35:3 (NIV)

Those who hope in Him will not be disappointed. (Isaiah 49:23)

The best is still yet to come! Just you wait.

Emily