Keep Moving Forward Step By Step

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 1, 2024

The world was created to be dynamic as evidenced by the changing seasons. Even during the coldest winter season, not all plants are dormant. According to HouseBeautiful, 17 flowers thrive during the coldest months of the year, including the beautiful snowdrops. Twenty species of evergreen trees including the Douglas Fir, Pine, and Spruce trees also maintain their hues of green throughout the harsh winter. The plant kingdom provides visual proof of God’s plan for continuous new growth.

There is another phenomenon of nature that produces new beginnings—fire. Although we view forest fires as destructive they are the catalyst for new growth. “Forest fires remove low-growing underbrush, clean the forest floor of debris, open it up to sunlight, and nourish the soil.” Wildfire ash provides essential nutrients to dormant seeds, enabling them to thrive and emerge from the soil with remarkable strength following the eradication of the existing vegetation.

“Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” —Genesis 1:26

From the cries of newborn babies to the continuous growth of the plant and animal kingdoms and the planet Earth revolving on its axis containing the exact mixture of elements required to fill our lungs with life-sustaining air, God reveals His love for all created beings. Our very existence along with the anatomy and physiology of our minds and bodies should raise our awareness that God has definitive plans for those created in His image.

“To everything, there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die…” —Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Death was not part of God’s original plan! After the Fall of Adam and Eve, sin resulted in both death and new life occurring simultaneously. We are living in the wintry season of the last days [Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3]. Take the time to be alone and reflect deeply on your life. Are you living your best life because you have aligned yourself with God’s plans? We must be careful in our decision-making, unwise choices not only waste our precious time but also jeopardize our reward of eternal life.

“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” —Psalm 90:12

Time is not our friend! We progress quickly through the life cycle. The cuddly newborn develops into a toddler and is school-age before parents can catch their breath. As we reflect on our lives, our journey of growth and development occurred like a whirlwind. From children to teenagers who quickly matured into young adults with varied responsibilities, we became parents, raised our children, advanced to the plight of empty-nesters, and then joyfully embraced the stage of grandparenting.

“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.” —Psalm 39:4

David prayed for wisdom when his heart was hot with anger. He had reached his limit of dealing with wicked people. Yet, he was aware of the frailty of human life, “like a vapor.” Like David, we cannot waste our precious days harboring anger, bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness in our hearts against those who have caused us mental, emotional, or physical harm.

Jesus forewarned us of the tribulations that every faithful believer would suffer. From studying the Bible, we learn that our trials and hardships are not setbacks, they are the Righteous fire that burns away our unrighteous character traits and behaviors. We are being transformed for a most wonderful eternal life with our Lord and Savior, King Jesus.

First Step: Are we putting forth the human effort to obey God’s plan that is designed to save our souls? We will also endure the wintry seasons of adversity that produce the newness of spiritual change in our minds, characters, and personalities. If we desire eternal life then we will not despise our hardships and things gone wrong. With steadfast faith and obedience embrace the journey on your Chosen Path. Yes, it gets rough at times, but keep moving forward, we are never alone.

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” —Isaiah 43:18-19

Each new day is our gift of mercies for new beginnings. Step 2: The mistakes we made in the past that we repented for, even if they brought consequences, we forgive ourselves and live for today. God promises us restoration and from this promise, He expects us to move forward. We pray for His guidance and reverence Him through obediently fulfilling His plans for the given day. God created every human being, animal, and plant to experience continuous growth and development. Keep moving forward!

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…” —2 Corinthians 12:9

We were given the new beginnings of a spiritual rebirth [we are a new creation in Christ] when we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior. Sanctification is a lifelong step-by-step spiritual journey of transformation that requires human effort and Divine Intervention. The goal is to have the Character of Christ. To ensure that we receive our reward of immortality when Jesus comes, all of heaven is involved in our earthly journey of spiritual transformation.

Step 3: To experience the highest level of spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth, we must fully cooperate with the Holy Spirit who gives us Christ’s strength to move forward. The theory of once saved always saved is human-made. Nor can we achieve a level of spiritual self-actualization by using human works alone. Spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities will never feel good. Keep praying, remain faithful, and strive to live a holy and acceptable life pleasing to God.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” —John 14:1-3

Step 4: Consistently remind yourself to rely on Christ’s strength! We are God’s responsibility. Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us. Although we are impacted every day by spiritual warfare, plans that do not come to fruition, and unexpected life events, every hardship was approved by Christ for our spiritual growth. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ is guiding us to possess a new and righteous character.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Step 5: Study Revelation chapters 21-22. Our journey is not in vain! One day this corrupt earth with all its evil will cease to exist. Jesus’ promise of giving us a new immortal life filled with love, peace, happiness, and joy in a sinless and perfect world will come to fruition. If we do our part, in Philippians 1:6, Jesus promises us that He will finish the work within us. Having the Character of Christ prepares us for the greatest transition—from this earth to our perfect home in the New Heaven and New Earth.

God, we thank You for New Beginnings, our trials and tribulations, the gift of Jesus, and the opportunity for Eternal Life. We pray for strength and direction as we travel in our journey. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries