STEPPING UP // MAY 30, 2023
The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 NLT
Stairs, or steps, are designed for ascent or descent -- we're either going up, or we're going down. Some Psalms are noted as being a Psalm of Ascent, with a key assumption being that when we go to God's house, we're always going up. And the Lord is directing our steps and every detail of our lives, holding us by the hand.
Stepping up isn't easy; it takes more effort! When we walk on a beach, our steps are uneven, making the walk harder. Ancient builders purposely designed the steps to the Temple Mount, an elevated plaza at the site of both Judaism's ancient temples, unevenly. Why? We can't escalate our lives flippantly or casually. Nor do we don't mindlessly stumble into worship. We need focused effort to get there. God operates in our lives in the same way: disrupting our rhythms and balances to get us to step with intention. It may not be easier, but walking with God is always better.
If your steps are ordered, which ones feel uneven right now? Instead of complaining, embrace God's disruption. If it feels harder and takes focused effort, God's taking you up! Meditate on today's bible verse, and ask God to help shift your mind from, "This is hard!" to "I can't wait to get to the top, Lord!" What God wants you to do is often simple -- but rarely easy. And always better.