MEDITATIONS

 JESUS CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE

 DEEPER
 STILL
 THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING
 THERE IS MORE
 SEASONS
 CHILD OF GOD BE PROACTIVE
 CHILD OF GOD, YOUR MINDSET MATTERS
 CHILD OF GOD, BE ENCOURAGED
 STEPS OR LEAPS
 1. JESUS CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new. -1Corinthians 5:17
The Word of God assures us that the moment a person enters into a relationship
with Jesus, that person opens the door of a new reality, new possibilities, and a new
life. It's safe to say a transformation happens. We call it a transformation because
you move from one form to another. You lose your sinful ‘natural form’ and take up
a new ‘spiritual form’.
Many people are scared of this change and so they avoid it and continue in their
pattern of life even when it does not satisfy them. However, for those who are
willing to let Jesus in, He gives them several promises one of which is the assurance
of a changed and abundant life (John 10:10).

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

There are also some who believe that they are ‘too bad’ for God and that they are
not good enough. Such people have a conviction in their minds that they are not the
kind of people God can transform. There is excellent news for them. The ‘bad’
people are exactly the ones Jesus seeks (Luke 5:31-32). Regardless of your origin
story or your background, Jesus is interested in you and you are not too bad for
him to love (Luke 19:10). You just have to give him a chance. There is no need for
fear or shame.

WHY AM I NOT CHANGING?

Many people struggle with this fact because they feel they have not seen the reality in
their lives, if he can transform, then why am I still the same? When will I ever
change? There must have been a certain disciple (who would later become an
apostle) asking those same questions as he wept after denying his Lord. That man’s
name was Peter and he had spent over 3 years following Jesus and listening to him
yet at the point of persecution, he was so ready and quick to forsake him.
Does this sound familiar? Have you spent several years in Christ and you still can’t
seem to get it right? Well if that’s you, there are 3 things you should know:
  God has not stopped loving you: You have to realize that God does not stop
loving you because of your mistakes, failings or sins. His love is everlasting
(Isaiah 31:3) and because of this, he does not give up on helping you. This is
why you also must not give up on him.
 Change is continuous: One of the devil’s deceits is that we are not changing
or that we have not changed, but no man comes to Christ Jesus and stays the
same. Change is a gradual process and it may take quite some time so don’t
rush it. Do not beat yourself up or give up, just stay in God and trust him.
 The Holy Spirit makes the difference: One sure thing that makes the
difference in the life of a believer is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit
came upon Peter he was bold and confident to proclaim Christ before
thousands of people. Even when the highest religious officials confronted
him, he stood his ground, even when he cost his life ( Acts 2:14-40, Acts 3:11-
26, Acts 4:8-19, Acts 12:3)

JESUS WANTS TO CHANGE YOU, AND HE CAN

Jesus made Peter a promise when they first started together. He said to Peter, ‘Follow
me and I will make you a fisher of men.’ At that time Peter was a fisherman himself,
so you can imagine that this would be quite a transformation. He had no idea how
Jesus would keep this promise. There were even several times when Peter attempted
to go back to what he was familiar with (Luke 22:54-62, John21:3, John18:10).
Despite all these, Jesus was still able to keep (his promise to) Peter (Luke 22:32) and
that same Peter went on to be a foremost apostle and convener for the early church.
Likewise, Jesus has the power to change your life and keep you on that path, if he
has started you on the journey of transformation he is faithful to keep you on it and
get you to your destination (Phil1:6).
Lastly, the first miracle of Jesus in a wedding in Cana is perhaps one of his most
memorable; where he turns water into delicious wine for the wedding guests.
Nobody would have ever thought that to be possible, it was a miracle of
transformation. The Bible says that this Jesus himself though unchanging (Hebrews
13:8) is constantly causing changes to occur and if he can turn even water into
wine, he change you in his time.
 2. DEEPER
“Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up,
since it had no depth of soil; and when the sun rose it was scorched and since it had no root it
withered away” – Mark 4:5-6
The parable of the sower teaches us an important lesson: the depth of soil that we
plant our seeds, matters (Matt 13:3-8, Mark 4:3-9). Seeds planted on shallow soil
hardly survive the climate and the surrounding environment let alone bear fruit. But
this is a life principle not limited to plants alone. We also as believers must be
willing to embrace a depth if we shall blossom as God has intended. Depth implies a
greater immersion into godliness and spiritual things. It means greater access to
certain levels but it can also mean greater sacrifice.
LEAVING THE SHALLOWS
Many times, the reason we neglect or avoid going deeper is because we are content
with the surfaces but as the parable of the sower shows us, the surface level is hardly
ever the most secure place to be.
A surface-level Christianity where you have very little substantial understanding of
the faith you profess will not do you a lot of good against the world, against the
devil, or even your flesh. You need to dig deep to know more.
DEPTH AND FRUITFULNESS
“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward,
and bear fruit upward.”(2 Kings 19:30)
One of the reasons for low productivity as a believer is a lack of depth. Just like the
verse above says, when we take root downwards, we may then bear fruit upwards.
The yield of your life as a believer, the fruits of the spirit that you bear, are all
determined by the firmness of your foundation and the depths of your root so if you
find your Christian experience barren and unfruitful (which is always a frustrating
situation) it may be that your roots are not deep enough.
THERE IS MORE
The bible says that the things that God has in store for us are beyond our
imaginations (1 Corinthians 2:9, Ephesians 3:20) that means that no matter how
good you think you’ve had it in life and in God, there is more.
Yes, there is more but the thing is, sometimes you have to seek, seeking means
searching for something intentionally. This requires work but that’s because what
we’re searching for is valuable and valuable things always come with a price. But
imagine missing out on the bounty God has in store for you because you were
unwilling to put in the effort.
GOING FURTHER (IS NEVER EASY BUT ALWAYS WORTH IT)
Going deeper may mean doing things you’ve never done before, praying, fasting,
worshipping in degrees you have never done before. It may mean consecrations and
devotions you have never made before, but it’s important to keep in mind that these
things are achievable by the grace of God, when God sees your desire to go deeper in
Him, He won’t ignore that, He will surely give you the grace you need to go beyond
your own limits. So when you ever find yourself failing, falling, or getting weak, ask
God for grace.
Going Deeper is never easy but it’s always worth it and with God, it is very
possible.
 3. STILL
“Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon him.” Psalm
37:7a AMPC
There are several times in life when what is required of us is stillness. An ability to
quiet ourselves and our lives. The time of stillness is a necessary season of life and
when it comes, we must be open to it. Admittedly, it is not always easy, especially in
the noisy, fast-paced, information-fueled world that we live in today. It can
sometimes feel like we are missing out when we are not moving at that same fast
pace.
However, there is always room for you to disconnect from the world to connect to
God. More than putting away your devices, this is a heart’s posture, a desire to spend
time alone with God, and a willingness to seek peace from the prince of peace
himself. You can voluntarily choose to be still but there are specific times in life that
require this practice (Ecc 3:7b). It takes discernment to know you are in a season
that requires stillness otherwise you may wear yourself out trying to force things that
require stillness.
WHEN DO WE NEED TO BE STILL?
When we are faced with difficult problems. This is a way of approaching life’s
puzzles because it gives us the chance to take a step back, seek the face of God,
receive counsel from God, and exercise wisdom.
When we are about to enter a new season or dispensation: The temptation here is
usually excitement but these times are so fragile they must be handled with care. The
kind of care that comes with being still and quiet.
When we are about to make an important decision: Our decisions are safer when
they are hinged on instructions from God and the quiet heart posture aligns us to
receive those instructions.
When we are distressed, depressed, tired, or overwhelmed: Those times when we
feel we do not have enough strength to go on, those are the crucial times to seek the
Lord in quietness for strength and peace.
THE STILLNESS PRECEDING A CHANGE
A good time for the practice of stillness is the period preceding a major life change.
This is because big life changes especially as occasioned by God, are usually
accompanied by instructions, directions, and declarations, your ability to quiet
yourself and pay attention makes it easier to receive them.

THE STILLNESS OF WAITING

Waiting periods, where we are looking to God for answers, help, deliverance, etc.,
are times when we must be intentional about stillness because waiting on God
requires patience, humility, and quietness. In these waiting periods, we need to be
attentive to the signs around us which may be discreet. For instance, the voice of
God came as a still small voice when Elijah waiting to hear from the Lord
(1King19:9-13).

THE STILLNESS OF REST

This is another form of stillness that entails you refraining from labour or strain
completely. It is necessary because allows the restoration of lost strength. This is a
time to fill yourself up again when you have given so much of yourself and expended
so much ability whether it was physical, emotional, or spiritual.
THE IMPORTANCE OF STILLNESS
 Gets rid of distractions
 Quietens you emotions
 Creates an atmosphere for God to meet you
 It rids you of the emotional/sentimental distractions
 It renews your strength
 It cultivates the gift of patience in you
 It prevents haste which leads to errors
 It refocuses your attention on God
 It gives you peace (even amid chaos)
Practically in our world today, stillness can look like going on a retreat to a quiet
place as Jesus did several times (Matt 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12). It can
look like, slowing things down in your schedule, taking time off from social media
etc. whatever it may look like for you, this practice is beneficial to your spirit and
your soul and when done rightly, draws God’s attention as well.

4. THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING

“So we fasted and asked our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.” – Ezra 8:23
Fasting is a form of stillness. It is a time when we order our bodies to be still so that
our minds and spirits can be attentive to God. Fasting is often understood to be a
time of refraining from food and other forms of pleasure while seeking God
intentionally in prayers. However, beyond this, it is a consecration, a kind of offering
we make to him; an offering of our attention and desires. It is far more than a
Christian rite or ritual. Moses, Esther, Daniel, and even the Lord Jesus, were biblical
examples of those who took on a fast when necessary.
COLLECTIVE FASTS
A fast can be done in agreement among a group of people, waiting on the Lord in
prayers. It could be a group, a church, or a nation but they must be united even in
their prayers. The people of Nineveh went on a collective fast as a nation to turn
away God’s verdict on them which Jonah prophesied to them (Jonah 3:5-9).

PERSONAL FASTS
Our fasts do not always have to be collective, we may individually decide to take on a
fast. There are several reasons we can choose to fast personally some of which
include:
 SEEKING THE LORD: These are times when we are seeking God’s face in
prayers over certain situations and life issues, we may be seeking his counsel,
or his help, or even forgiveness when we have erred like David ( 1 Sam 12:16)
whatever the case, fasting is a useful tool in seeking the Lord’s face.
  DEVOTION AND CONSECRATION: When we fast, we are doing more
than denying our bodies of food or pleasure, we are giving ourselves specially
to God in devotion, choosing him over our desires, and this is in itself, is a
kind of worship.

 A SACRIFICE: A fast is often a sacrifice. It is a form offering (in this case,

an offering of pleasure) that catches God’s attention (Psalm 50:5). We may
decide to fast to offer this sacrifice to God and get his attention.

THINGS THAT MAKE OUR FASTING FRUITFUL AND PLEASING TO

GOD (Isaiah 58:3-8, Matt 6:16-18)
 Sincerity: Our fasts are pleasing and acceptable to God when we are being
honest about our need for him, if we go on fasts to impress people, brag, or
boast about how pious we are and how much discipline we have, it is
essentially unacceptable to God. Likewise, if we claim to be fasting and while
still disobeying God’s word; sinning against God and those around us, we are
simply wasting our time. We must be consistent in what we say and do if truly
we are waiting on God by fasting.

 Patience: Speaking of waiting, true fasting requires patience because our body
and flesh want pleasure and satisfaction, it takes patience not to cave but to
continue enduring and ignoring our flesh. Sometimes we find that we are
more irritable because we are going against our body’s desires, the temptation
is to lash out at others, yet we must exercise patience, showing kindness
instead of temper to those around us.

 A proper heart: This is our heart posture while we fast because more than
refraining from pleasures, our thoughts and motives are also very important to
God. So it is important to guard our hearts and what goes in.
  Prayer: When we fast, we must pray. Fasting without prayer is a waste of time.
Why get God’s attention if you don’t intend to use it? Prayer keeps our hearts
and minds on track, it helps us to overcome the temptations that come
Fasting may not always be easy, but the spirit is strengthened and the soul
refreshed by it.

5. THERE IS MORE
‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with
oil, my cup overflows.’ –Psalm 23:5
One of the great and undeniable truths about God is that he is infinite and big
beyond our imaginations. The book of Matthew paints a picture of this where Jesus
describes God as having his throne in heaven yet having the earth as his footstool
(Matt 5:34-35). As infinite as God is, so is his ability to provide for our every need
(Phil 4:19) and there is no shortage of goodness, miracles, help, healing, and
deliverance in God. God has everything you could ever need and more and it’s not
going anywhere, all of the resources in the heavens and the earth. We have this
access to Him and all he owns as his children.
GOD: THE CHEERFUL GIVER
Think about it, why would God instruct and encourage us so often in the Bible to
give (Deut 15:10, Prov 19:17, Luke 6:38, 2 Cor 9:7) if he were not himself, the most
generous of all. The Lord has so much for us and he gives us access to it
unflinchingly, neither holding back nor thinking twice. Why, he gave us his most
precious treasure; his beloved son (John 3:16). If he could give us that, there’s
nothing he would not give to meet our needs (Romans 8:32).

DON’T BE SCARED TO ASK

God is so willing to lavish but he has a major expectation and requirement of us;
that we ask. Many believers are afraid of asking God certain things because they
believe it is ‘too big’ or even ‘too small’ they do not want to stress God with minute
details or bother him with big requests both mindsets are wrong because God is not
complaining. God wants you to ask. There is nothing too small or too silly. In the
bible, we are told to ask and there are no restrictions or qualifications just an
instruction to ask (Matt 7:7, Luke 11:9-10).

A SCARCITY MINDSET
We must not be content with little when there is so much before us. We mustn't be
overly anxious about the things God has given us. If God has blessed us before, he
can bless us again. His blessings are not for us to hoard or hold back in fear that we
shall lose them. If you need again, by all means, ask again. The Bible says he daily
loads us with benefits and so we are to ask of him our daily bread (Psalm 68:19,
Matt 6:11) God has so much for you every day!

GIVING US HIMSELF
Out of all the wonderful gifts and blessings God has given us access to, the greatest
of all is access to God himself. He is our father, our friend, and our portion. We
have special access to him and whenever we call on him, he will answer. And just as
there are more blessings for us than we could ever imagine, there are greater
revelations and experiences of him than we could ever imagine. The more of him we
want, the more of him we can get, and let’s face it, we’ll never have enough, because
he is infinite. If what you desire is a deeper access to God and a deeper level of
intimacy, just like everything else, He is willing to give. Simply ask and it will be
given. Seek and you shall find.
No matter how far you have gone in God, there is more of him to discover.
 6. SEASONS
“To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
There are times in life when we experience periods that heavily emphasize particular
themes, and are typified by certain events and occurrences. These can be
understood to be seasons. We can have seasons of abundance, celebration, trials,
persecution, etc., it is the natural course of existence and we must have an awareness
of the changing times and seasons in our lives if we will maximize them. Many
people go through life without having this awareness, unable to recognize what
season they’re in which is unfortunate because we cannot walk in alignment and
partnership with the will of God when we do not know the season at play.
EVERY SEASON REQUIRES:
 Strategy: Every season requires unique strategies and planning. This, to a
good extent, prevents unexpected events and there is a greater possibility of
success when our strategies are based on instructions received from God.
 Prayers: A season can be substantially sculpted by our efforts in prayer. If you
have a picture in your head of what you would like your season to look like,
pray it into being.
 Discernment: This is a specific kind of wisdom that enables us to sense and
distinguish the good from the bad. Discernment is useful for avoiding
dangerous situations, people, and events.
 Wisdom: Wisdom in the form of counsel and instruction is also useful in
guiding us to make the right decisions
 Partners & Allies: There are often people who serve a particular purpose in
our lives for time-based periods. Some may come and go based on the
particular season and some are constant throughout our lives. Recognizing
our partners, allies or even helpers makes our journey smoother.

WELCOMING A NEW SEASON

There are times when it becomes very obvious to us that we are going from one level
to another. It may be a new role/ qualification we have received or a big life change
in general. Whatever it is, we must know, that preceding the start of a new season,
there are several things that we have to put in place.
Gratitude: When we can recognize a new season right in front of us, we should
express gratitude and thanksgiving to God for the grace to transition from one
season to another.
Preparation: The preparation can be both in the place of planning and prayer. This
is important because it gives us greater control over the events of the season.

WHEN SEASONS DO NOT CHANGE

There are times when we seem to be stuck in a particular period and there seems to
be no advancement whatsoever. In times like this, we must once again exercise
discernment to know if all is well or if there is a problem of stagnation. This
situation is not always negative as God can use it to train us and teach us the virtue
of patience. Either way, it is important to engage God in prayer to find the answers.

LEAVING SEASONS PREMATURELY: Likewise, we have to be careful not to

rush out from one season to another before time because this increases the
likelihood of mistakes. Every season of life has lessons to teach us and we deprive
ourselves of that opportunity when we are too eager to step out of one season into
another.
 7. CHILD OF GOD BE PROACTIVE
“Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your
house.” – Prov 24:27 RSV
Until recent times, one of the often overlooked teachings in the Christian faith was
the importance of proactivity. Being proactive means thinking ahead, planning,
visualizing possible outcomes, and preparing for them. This was the skill the wise
virgins had that differentiated them from the foolish ones while awaiting their
bridegroom (Matt 25:1-4). When we are proactive, we engage the gift of vision and
foreknowledge that God by His spirit has given us. There is absolutely nothing
wrong with it.
However, there are believers who leave their lives to chance, believing God has
planned it out already, so it is left to him to bring things into existence but this is
not how God works. He does not bear the responsibility of his promise alone
(though he may bear the greater part). He requires us to obey him and work together
with him to bring those plans to fruition.

CO-LABOURERS WITH GOD

“For we are labourers together with God…” 1 Cor 3:9a
When God gives us a promise or prophecy on what will happen to us; for his part,
he is faithful enough to carry it out, but he needs our cooperation and involvement
as well. If he did not need us to do anything, there would be no point in telling us.
We need the knowledge of his plans so that we can align with them by our actions.
God’s will is done on earth by a partnership of God and man. For instance, the
coming of Christ the Savior as a babe would be impossible if there had been no
human cooperation.
PLANNING WITH GOD
Now that it is established, that when God tells us something, we have a part to play,
we must know, that it is easier to play this part when we are people of prayer. By
prayer, we learn of God’s plans and intentions, and we present our perspectives and
suggestions before him for guidance.
Where our lives are concerned we have the privilege of planning with God in the
place of prayer.

THE DANGERS OF INERTIA

The plans we have made with God in prayers do not stop in prayers though, as God
requires us to take action to bring the plans to reality. Unfortunately, many of God’s
promises and plans for us are threatened by slothfulness. This is why the bible warns
of slothfulness and its effects (Prov 15:19, Prov 18:9, Prov 21:25). Slothfulness refers
to an unwillingness to work or move, a sluggishness when we do eventually decide to
work. If we would lead fruitful lives as believers, there is no place for slothfulness or
inertia, we must be willing to plan, think, and act in good time.
GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES
It is not uncommon for believers trying to avoid slothfulness and in a bid to take
decisive action, rush to do the things they have been told and may sometimes, move
even faster than God would have them move. The danger of this is that haste often
leads to mistakes( Prov 19:2). When we try to finish our ability what we started in
partnership with God; this, the bible tells us, is a folly (Gal 3:3)
 8. CHILD OF GOD, YOUR MINDSET MATTERS
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians
4:8, KJV
One of the most important things in our lives as believers that can govern virtually
every other thing we do is the mindset we have. It is an accumulation of the
thoughts and the knowledge we have acquired over time. In simple terms, it is what
your mind is full of. The mindset you have is what dictates your actions and the
steps you take. It was the Israelites’ mindset that caused them to panic at the thought
of the Canaanites and ultimately kept them from immediately entering their
Promised Land (Numbers 14:1-4).

THE MAKING OF A MINDSET

Since our mindsets are made up of different thoughts and ideas, it is something that
can be built up, formed, and reformed over time and with the right ingredients. The
Bible gives us a formula for the kind of thoughts we should entertain because forms
the type of mind we would have (Phil 4:8).
Knowing the importance of what goes into our minds, we must be cautious of the
kind of content we consume, the books we read, the things we view, and the songs
we listen to. These things are all powerful in constructing our mindset thus
influencing our perception of the world and of ourselves.
A POWERFUL MIND
When our minds have been formed and well-sculpted with the right things, we will
find that we are more confident, happy, and capable. This is because a healthy mind
is skin to a healthy body and it is just as powerful. The mind is a place of vision and
many victorious people had their victories and successes first visualized in their
minds. There is very little a strong mind fed with the right content cannot achieve.
What we can visualize and achieve is based on the mindset we have, a mindset of
failure and defeat can hardly ever be victorious.
 9. CHILD OF GOD, BE ENCOURAGED
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all
the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged
himself in the Lord his God” -1 Sam 30:6

In life, even the believer is faced with unpleasant and unfortunate circumstances.
This can be even more disappointing because we have the power of prayer, and we
know that all things are possible with God so when we encounter difficulties and
hard situations it can be conflicting, confusing, and quite frankly disheartening.
Nevertheless, while God himself acknowledges our pain and grief (like Jesus did
when he wept with Mary and Martha in John 11), He does not expect us to lose
hope and give up completely. That is why encouragement is a strong theme in
scripture (John 16:33, Isaiah 41:10, John 14:27) encouragement is so important to a
believer, that one of the Holy Spirit’s major assignments is to comfort and encourage
us.
Encouragement looks like gathering your morale and willpower in the face of
difficulty. It looks like summoning new courage to rise after a loss or defeat. It is
important that we are encouraged and continue in hope otherwise our faith will be
negatively affected and our ability to move forward will also be limited. One of the
distinguishing factors between Judas who killed himself and Peter who became a
foremost apostle and church leader is that the latter allowed himself to be
encouraged and the former did not.

SEEKING OUT ENCOURAGEMENT

Knowing that encouragement is so vital to our Christian walk, it is important that
we intentionally seek it in our low times. There are several sources of encouragement
in times of difficulty such as our Christian friends and community, our trusted
spiritual leaders, mentors and guides, godly &edifying content/message/music, the
word of God, and God himself.
GETTING TO ENCOURAGEMENT AND HOW TO GO ABOUT IT
 BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF: If we pretend we are not hurt or
discouraged, we would not only be deceiving ourselves, we would be limiting
our ability to heal. We have to be honest about our injuries, trauma, and
disappointment with ourselves and even God. An admirable trait of the
psalmist is that he was always very honest with God about his disappointment
but he never stayed disappointed for too long.

 REFLECT ON PAST LESSONS: Willingness to learn from past mistakes on

previously unknown principles can go a long way in preparing us better for
future situations thereby encouraging us. We cannot pretend our past pains
do not exist rather it is better to take what we can from the experience and
learn.

 LET GO OF THE PAST: After reflecting on past lessons on what we could

have done better, we must then move on. Let go of the past, forgive yourself,
forgive others, and look to the future. Many people find it hard to be
optimistic and hopeful about the future because they are too held back by the
past. Encouragement gives us the strength to face new challenges without
fear.
 10.STEPS OR LEAPS
“For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall”- Psalm 18:29
In mathematics, there are two principles of arithmetic and geometric progression. In
the former, there is an order of numbers following each other, they are not too far
apart so the pattern is easy enough to notice. In the geometric progression, however,
there may be a greater distance between the numbers, and spotting the pattern
becomes far more complex even requiring a formula. So one can say in the
Arithmetic progression (AP), the movement is like in steps; in the Geometric
Progression (GP), the movement is like leaps.
Now we step out of the realm of mathematical equations and into our lives, we can
likely relate to times like when we seemed to be advancing a bit slowly in steps and
times when we were caught in the fast and high leaps of life.
Walking with God: Walking means moving forward at a steady, reasonable pace.
Walking is good and effective. More so, when we walk with God, then we can go at
his exact pace, we can even walk on water like he does (Matt 14:28). There are times
when we need this steady and predictable pace to get ahead in life but there are
other times where walking alone will not do the trick.
Leaping: Unlike walking which is fairly simple and comes easily to us, it takes
strength to leap. It takes a certain posturing and a proper positioning of yourself to
leap and when it happens it does not always seem as natural as walking so it tends to
attract attention and sometimes we are scared of that. We get so comfortable with
walking at our safe slow place that we are unwilling to leap. This becomes a problem
because when we walk with God, there really will be times when we will have to
exert ourselves and leap. The leaps we take in life are the big chances and the risks
and unpredictable moves that seem physically impossible but are borne out of faith
in God’s ability to carry us through.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING FORWARD
Whether we are moving fast, going slow, or taking leaps, what matters to God is that
we do not go back to where he has called us like the Israelites when they desired to
go back to Egypt (Num 14:3-4). Likewise, God gives us the grace to move so we must
not be content with stagnation. Nevertheless, there is a time for steps, a time for
leaps, and a time to stay completely still but we must always move in a
progression.