Your Footprints

The “Footprints in the Sand” poem is one of the most enduring poems to many Christians. You know the one. It tells of a period of reflection where the person looks back over their life and only notices one set of steps. They come to the happy conclusion that God carried them through the hard times in life, therefore leaving behind only one set of footprints.

Well, let me tell you friend, whether you know it or not, you are indeed leaving behind footprints. But where do they lead? If someone were to trace those prints, what would they find? Would they see consistent steps toward God? Or would they see a web of missteps, back steps, and off track movements? For me, it would be the latter. I’m a reformed know-it-all who just simply doesn’t know it all. After falling on my face a few thousand times, I’ve finally decided to do it God’s way.

Understand, friends, that God will carry us through challenges, but we need to make choices that reflect a desire to follow hard after Him. Walking forward, not retreating.

This can only happen when we yield our will to the Lord. Proverbs 16:9 says A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (NKJV). We have to have the faith to submit to His will. Allow the Lord to alter your plans or even change them altogether. Allow His will and His Word to shape your desires and your dreams. When we truly trust that He knows best, we can freely and courageously walk in the steps that He has ordered for us.

As we end this first week of this new year, don’t just make resolutions, or layout plans. Don’t just make vision boards and choose a word for the year. Instead, confidently place your plans in the hands of the Lord. Then two sets of steps will be present on our journey. The steps of our faithful Lord and His obedient child.