Don’t Swerve
Ever had a toenail removed? Me either – til last night. An injury turned into a problem and, though I tried to ignore it for a couple of weeks, the pain caused an urgent care visit.
In our crazy times, it’s hard to keep our footing. Some people choose words for the year. Words such as courage or wonder. The words are meant to help us focus and improve. I’ve done it off and on – some years forgetting my word by summer, others feeling like I failed. But this year a local pastor said he felt the word for 2021 should be: Jesus. Not a word, but a person.
I think he’s on to something. I feel like I spent nine months of 2020 focused on many wrong things. Things that didn’t make a difference, didn’t help or encourage, things that sucked life instead of breathing life. “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.” (Hebrews 12:2a GNT)
I’m watching my steps closely now, not wanting to stub my toe, protecting it until it heals. Graceful may not be an accurate description of how I usually do day-to-day. I bump into things, trip over things, enjoying the moments and not always noticing the obstacles.
“Keep walking on straight paths, so that the lame foot may not be disabled, but instead be healed.” (Hebrews 12:13 GNT) Lame used here is not physical, but spiritual. A spiritual lameness that results when our focus is on anything other than Christ. Distraction caused my toe injury, the same can cause us to stumble in our spiritual life.
And though God is always right there to help us through when we find ourselves stumbling, I think the next verse points us to one more reason as to why it’s important to look where our souls are plodding along to: “Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.” (Hebrews 12:14 GNT)
See the Lord – in us. Others are watching. Longing for the right path – one that leads them to Jesus. Show them the way, don’t swerve:
“Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.” (Proverbs 4:25-27 ESV)
parisrenae 
This is beautiful! It reminds me of what I call “snagging our toe along our journey in the valley of hard”. Not exactly a neat, concise way to say it. Whether snagging our toe, stumbling, or swerving off course, God is always there to pick us up and straighten the path again. Sorry to hear about your toe. Isn’t it funny (?) how God uses the painful to bring our focus back to Him? He sure has a sense of humor! It’s so nice to meat you, sister. I found you at Grace & Truth. Hugs! 🙂
LikeLike
Nice to meet you too – God does indeed have a sense of humor – and He uses all things for the good of us who love Him. Jesus – our Person – for 2021 and always!
LikeLike
Beautifully said, Paris. Sorry about your toe. And agree with the pastors sentiments on “the word for 2021 should be: Jesus. Not a word, but a person.”
LikeLike
Yes, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life for 2021! All we need 🙂
LikeLike