Living Large, One Step At a Time

"A man’s mind plans his way as he journeys through life,
But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.”—Proverbs 16:9, Amplified

If you are a goal-oriented, tackle-the-list, dream big “what-if?” dreams kind of person (and everyone is to some extent), then it’s good to know that God is on our side. He built us that way, and He thinks goals and plans and thoughtful strategies are a very good thing. In fact, when choosing to be a Kingdom person, they’re essential.

And yet, there is this as well: We think paths and highways to the goal line; God is more into steps, one at a time. 

Many of those steps seem very routine if not boring. Because while He may be cheering on our goals and dreams, God always seems to be more excited about growing roots in the soil of the day-to-day, when not much seems to be happening (even if most of it is pleasant), or when things don’t make much sense, the hours are full of distraction, and everything seems far-removed from any cherished goal or dream. It is here, where we all live most of our lives, where God seems to know best that faithfulness and trust must take root and grow strong for the challenges and trials and stresses—including those pertaining to our goals and dreams—that will inevitably come along.

Even the testing of everything in which we say we believe,which is just about any routine day you turn on the news.

The upside-down simplicity of God’s call on our lives may not be so much about arriving at the huge thing we’re planning or dreaming about, but rather learning to walk in friendship with Him in all things big and small. Especially the small and ordinary of the moment, of the gift of today—to tune in to what He might be seeing, to hear what He is saying now or has already said in His Word for this particular moment, this busy sidewalk, this loved one or friend, this life situation. To know, as friend walking with Friend, when to be silent and just pray, and when to respond...

Lord, help me to remember that in the goodness of setting goals and dreaming big dreams to not only strive to keep things simple, but also to keep it personal. You are called "our Father" for a good reason. So, let my first goal for this simple walk with You always be 'today'—even right now, when no one is around to see. Let my conversation with You be unending, unreligious, and filled with hope even amidst a lot of questions, and to remember that You are perfectly cool with grammatically incorrect sentences, and then to listen—to be still and listen for Your good pace as You direct each one of my steps so very well. And then especially, to remember this:

"Your prayers need not be labored or lengthy or grandiose—for your Father knows what you need before you ever ask Him. Your prayers, rather, should be simple, like this:
Our Father in heaven, let Your name remain holy.
Bring about Your kingdom. 
Manifest Your will here on earth, as it is manifest in heaven.
Give us each day that day’s bread—no more, no less.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive those who owe us something. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
But let Your kingdom be, and let it be powerful and glorious forever. Amen."

(Matthew 6:7-13, Voice)