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“Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  Matthew 16:24 (ESV)

“Step back 2, 3, 4 Forward 2, 3, 4 – Grapevine to the right, 2, 3, 4 – Grapevine to the left 2, 3 – whoops”

I was counting the steps in my head to a song in my Zumba class. I had moved to this song plenty of times before. I thought I didn’t have to watch the leader. I was in my own head over a situation that was bothering me. Before I realized it, I had started following the woman in front of me. It was going well for a few moments. However, I was unaware that others in the group started following me. Then we realized the whole class was moving to the wrong song. None of us had our eyes on the leader. Even the lady I was following – we were all in our own heads moving to a different tune.

It’s easy to do, isn’t it? Becoming distracted. Allowing ourselves to go on “auto-pilot” just doing what we may have done in the past or what we see others do. We go to church, read our Bible and pray. We move in step to the comfort level of our lives. All the while our hearts “our eyes” are focused on the situation causing us pain. The cross that we are bearing – – finances, health issues, problems with our children, grieving a loved one, etc. But sometimes God is trying to change the rhythm of our lives (most always getting us out of our rhythm of comfort).

In a previous season, He may have told us to pray and wait. But in this season, He may want us to move “act.”  If we focus on our “cross,” we will allow ourselves to become distracted and miss the change in His steps being orchestrated in our lives.

The word of God never changes (Psalms 119:89). Yet His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). God uses different methods in different seasons.

Imagine Peter and Andrew on the shore after a long night of fishing. Ever wonder what the circumstances were that put them out on a boat in the middle of the night? Perhaps they were trying to catch enough fish to make money to pay their bills. When Jesus saw them, He said “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:19-20, ESV) Thankfully, they weren’t too focused on their problems to miss the change Jesus was doing in their lives.

“Father help us to firmly fix our eyes on Jesus. Teach us to listen to that still small voice of wisdom and stay in step with his guidance. Enable us to walk in Your hope, peace, joy and draw others to you.”

For His Glory,

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life