In my favorite poem by Robert Frost, Nothing Gold Can Stay, he reminds us that like the seasons of nature, life is one season melting into another, and quickly fading away. This is my attempt to document each season in my life and my family.

Ordered Steps

Filed under: General — Rachel at 11:06 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2007

My dad jokingly told me the other day to call him when I “announced my call”. He was teasing me about some changes in my life recently. I laughed at him. I thought of it tonight, though, because this post is about my call. Mine and yours.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. I Peter 2:21

Christ has called us to follow in his steps. I can hear him calling. I’m answering, “Yes!”

Over the last several months, I have felt Him prompting me to take certain steps. At times, I was scared. I was afraid to trust Him. What if he asked something hard of me? What if he led me somewhere painful? The call was loud, though, and ever present. The call to “come and follow Me”.

The first step was a step of faith. A faith to trust Him. To go where He wanted me. I had to quit asking “what if”, but answer “even if”. Even if He asks me to do something hard. Even if He leads me somewhere painful. He suffered for me. He bought my freedom and my very soul with His blood. How could I answer anything except, “Yes, Lord. I will follow you.” The step of faith was a decision. A decision to say “even if” and take the first step in obedience and in the knowledge that He wants good for me. His way is best.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way; Psalm 37:23

I’ve taken several major steps the past few months. A step away from my chains and into His arms. A step past the wall of unforgiveness I had built. A step out of my comfortable box and into the unknown. Some of the steps were hard, but I had to do it. I had seen with a new vision that His way is good. He has a plan. He has a path laid before me.

The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

There have been times when I had planned in my heart what I thought should happen. What I thought I should do to get to where I wanted to go. However, through His Word or through a sermon or through an impression He has laid on my heart, I’ve seen that he had a different step for me to take. At times, it may have been a little scary. Right now, I am in a transition time in my life. I don’t know where His path is leading me. I don’t know what He has in store. I have to trust that He has a plan, and I know it’s going to be good. I know that He orders my steps.

As I drove home from taking Kyra to school yesterday, I was having my time of prayer, and it was good. As I prayed, I was praying about the changes in my life, and asking for direction and guidance. I asked him to hold my right hand, and show me where to step. I asked him to make my path straight. I realized, as I prayed, that I often want him to show me the whole path. I want to see where I’m going before I start walking. That’s not always how it works, though. Often, He just shows me the next step. He shows me one step, and I have to take it and trust that He will then show me the next one. He’s been faithful so far. I can’t help but believe He will continue to be faithful, and He will continue to order my steps.

A lot of people are worried about me right now. They care for me, and some of the changes in my life are bothering them. I wish I could comfort their hearts. I wish they could see, as I can, that my steps have been ordered. So, friends, help me pray.

Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Psalm 119:133

Pray that God will fulfill this verse in my life. I know that He has promised to guide my steps and keep them steady. Even if He asks me to step into unknown territory…even if He asks me to go somewhere that scares me…even if, I am determined to follow.

He’s called me to follow in His steps. With His help, that’s what I intend to do.
—————-
Now playing: Bebo Norman - Yes I Will
via FoxyTunes

4 Comments »

Comment by Cassandra

November 14, 2007 @ 2:11 pm

Just a few questions… Changes… such as? I will be frank…. Is it the shedding of standards, convictions, or denomination?(i.e. going non-Baptist?) Cause honestly, changes like that, well, they worry me. I have noticed, being in the ministry, that when people start making changes in that nature, their spiritual walk kind of takes a downward spiral. We start seeing less and less of them, and then, poof! They’re gone. Or, is it changes like, growing closer to God, realizing your place in his heart, etc??? Cause changes like that are great! No condemnation, I am just curious. Reading your blog over the past year or so, I have really come to know you, and I feel close to you, even though we have never met in person. You were really vague about the changes, so I am just curious. If you don’t want to disclose too much personal information, that’s fine. I’ll be anxiously awaiting your response if you do. = )

Comment by Debbie

November 14, 2007 @ 4:16 pm

I’m not a bit worried about you as I know God will take care of you and I know you are a woman seeking after God’s own heart. I’m not sure how shedding a denomination would also shed standards and convictions cassandra? Perhaps those were all meant to be separate? I am Lutheran and certainly don’t think I’ve shed any standards or convictions by not being Baptist like my parents. Or Assemblies of God like my grandparents. Geez.

Praying for you in this time of transition. And tell Amy she and I are on the same network too. ;) ha!

Comment by Cassandra

November 14, 2007 @ 6:41 pm

They were meant to be seperate. = )

Comment by Rachel

November 14, 2007 @ 7:05 pm

Cassandra…
Hey, there. I know I was a bit vague. Sorry about that. To clarify, the changes I meant were mostly in regard to the things I’ve been blogging about the past few months. I’m excited about God and what He’s doing for me. He’s changing who I am and how I think about myself. Some people have started to notice. There are some changes that, while not new for Chris and I, are new knowledge to others…such as the Bible version issue and music preferences. I mostly just meant the things I’ve tried to be transparent about on my blog. As far as the transition stuff, I’ll get to that in a future blog post. Rest assured, though, that we are not leaving our denomination, nor are we dropping any convictions that we have. Some standards that other people find important may change, just like the Bible version and music thing, but if it’s a Biblical standard that God puts on our hearts I can assure you that we are not going to drop it.

Debbie, thanks for the comment, and I appreciate your prayers. So much! I told Amy. ;)

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