Next Steps and Happy Red Shoes!

I am thinking about the next steps these days. Is there a new step in ministry for me? How do I serve? Does God have more?

How about you? Do you ever dream of your future path? Do you wonder about your next steps?

In this life journey, I have learned that the next step is sometimes straightforward, with a big open door and a direct path to follow. This is a confident and rewarding path. Other times, the path is overgrown and hard to see. Often, this path ends aimlessly and stops in front of a closed door. This comes with doubts and questions, as well as searching for more. Staying still with trust and rest on God's agenda is a learning journey. Running ahead in uncharted territory may be tempting to quickly arrive at my next destination without learning lessons along the way. This impatience and following my way leads to frustrations and failures.

I do know that in ALL times and paths, there is a path I do not want to miss. It is so simple that I can often skip right over it. You see, the best path of this Christian journey is when I keep saying yes to Jesus. The next step is yes. Then, the step after that one, and so on. It is doing the next right thing. It is saying yes, repeatedly, trusting His way and direction.

So, today, my Friends, I am wearing my bold red shoes and reminding myself that though my next steps may be hard to see, (currently) my best next step is simply saying yes. It is a surrender. -Yes, while I wait. Yes, in the renewal. Yes, in the resting. Yes, in the calling. Yes, in the present. Yes, in the peace.

This is what the Christian life is all about - learning to say yes to Jesus in every step of the faith journey because this is not my life to live. My life is not my own- It is Christ's who is living in me. The Christian life is a daily surrender to His direction and His path in our lives. Galatians 2:20 reads, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who lived me and gave himself for me." My yes to His way and His life in me.

My yes to His way and His life in me.

Friend, are you saying yes to your Lord today? Yes, to patience. Yes, to trusting Him. Yes, in the waiting. Yes, to giving your worries and anxieties to Him. This is the path to life and joy!

May I encourage you to find your red shoes, and let's take the next step together. Just say yes!

"Yes, Lord, yes, to your will and to your way; yes, Lord, yes, I will trust you and obey. When your spirit speaks to me with my whole heart, I'll agree. And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes." (by Shirley Caesar 1988)