Third Thursday Thoughts: Step by Step by Faith

Rick Renner is a favorite author and teacher of mine. But his wife, Denise, shares some wonderful things, too. This meme she posted on Facebook blended beautifully with my subject matter for this post. Waiting on God is almost always accomplished step by step by faith. If we are patient to take the steps in His order and His timing, we will experience the best Heaven has to offer. 

On this journey of beginning a new life and ministry of "re-firement," Dennis and I have learned we must wait on God. Looking back, we see God's hand leading and guiding every step. But sometimes, even though we have come so far, the fulfillment of our vision still seems a long way off. It's been amazing to be on our property and taking steps toward building next spring. But it would be easy to become discouraged if I dwell on living my second winter in a 26-ft camper! I just have to remind myself, on a daily basis, that waiting on God's best plan for us means just that. But waiting patiently. That doesn't mean not doing anything. It means taking the steps we can. The steps He shows us. And taking them with joy, excited for the end result -- no matter how long it takes.

This year I have been studying the book of James. It talks a lot about the patient farmer and how he waits for the harvest. But while he waits, he does what he knows to do. He waters the seeds, pull up the weeds, keeps out the enemies that would tear it up and devour it. And he does it over and over again, every day if necessary. Until the harvest is ready. Then he goes out and brings it in.

Do you have a harvest, a life goal, a vision, that you've been waiting for? Planning for? Something you've dreamed about for a long time? Have you done that last thing God told you to do? Keep doing what you know to do. Take each step God shows you, quickly. If you know it's God, no hesitation! Until He reveals the next step, remember that if you go too quickly, if you rely on your own resources to accomplish things faster, if you skip steps He has planned for you to take, you will miss His best for you, and you may find yourself face down in the dirt. Instead, I encourage you to patiently open your heart to what Heaven has in store. Wait for it. It will surely come.

Happy Thanksgiving. Be BLESSED.