30 Stepping on God’s Heels
STEPPING ON GOD’S HEELS
Like to hike?
No, you don’t have to be a back-to-nature zealot or a starry-eyed mountain climber. How about a Sunday amble down a country road … or an October stroll through a park, kicking the leaves?
When I was on my feet, hiking was one of the finest things I could anticipate. And we were blessed having a big state park backed up against our farm. Oh, there were countless streams to follow and trails to explore!
My dad was a great hiker. Even when we were as young as five or six years old, my sisters and I would line up behind him as he led the way. We never knew where we were going, but with my dad in charge, striding out in front of us, we were convinced it would be an adventure.
Because of my excitement to always see what was just around the corner or over the next hill, I was constantly stepping on my dad’s heels, bumping into his back every now and then. Not that I dared run ahead of him. I just knew that his trail was hot. He was going places! And as long as I hiked right behind him, I’d be able to keep up and not miss a single thing he wanted to show us.
Funny thing. Seasoned hiker that my father was, he never seemed to get irritated at us girls for following too closely. Even though we occasionally stepped on his heels, or telescoped into his back when he stopped, I think he took delight in our excitement to stay so close … to stick together … to follow him on the trail.
Don’t you wish for that kind of excitement when following the Lord Jesus? Wouldn’t it be glorious if we could always look at our Christian walk as a great adventure?
Maybe that’s why Psalm 119:133 draws me so much. The psalmist writes: “Direct my footsteps according to your word.” I like to think I’m on an adventurous journey with Christ as leader. And you know something? I would also want to be the sort of follower who is constantly stepping on the Lord’s heels, bumping into His back, excited to see what lies around the next bend or over the next hill.
No, I don’t want to detour around God. I don’t want to run ahead of Him. (How foolish that would be!) I just want to stay close behind Him in my Christian life. I want to know the trail is fresh. I don’t want to miss a thing He might want to point out to me.
“My soul follows close behind You,” sang David, “Your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:8, NKJV).
And how does our heavenly Father feel about our tagging along so closely? Delighted. Nothing could please Him more than when we, His children, desire to stay close. It brings Him great joy when we stick together and follow Him on the trail.
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.… You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. (Psalm 16:11, NIV; 139:3, NLT)
So let me ask you again. What do you think about hiking? And for that matter, how do you view the path you are trekking through life?
Would to God that we all could keep stepping on the heels of the Lord Jesus, bumping into His back every once in a while. How wonderful if we could make it our goal to follow Him and His leading that closely.
Today, let’s make sure we keep on His heels.
A Step Closer
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
PSALM 37:23–24, NASB
I came across a verse recently that really has nothing to do
with following God … it’s in another context entirely.
It’s from 2 Kings 11:8, where a priest tells a group of soldiers,
“Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”
Even so, it’s great advice for those of us who seek to follow
Christ. Stay close to the King. Go where He goes.
Stop where He stops. Hurry when He hurries,
and take it slow when He does. To do this, to live this way,
requires a heart that keeps in tune with His all day long.
Resolve to do that today … to the best of your ability.
Stay close to Him, and you’ll never lose your way.