Watch Your Step!

I got my first introduction to a Tennessee snowstorm this past week… although, to be fair, I hear tell that this last storm was not a usual example of a normal snow event in the state.  This particular storm was a much more powerful experience from Mother Nature.  I’ve actually seen worse in Oklahoma, but the cold out here definitely seems to be colder to me, than the cold in Oklahoma!  I’ve been told that it is due to the higher percentage of humidity in the Volunteer State.  But anyway that you look at it, frozen snow and ice on the ground… is still a dangerous combination… especially if you don’t pay attention when you are outside!

Throughout the storm and its cold aftereffects, I’ve made a point to stay as close to Fiver’s daily walk schedule, as both of us tend to get a little stir-crazy if we spend too much time in our small apartment.  The walks may not be as long or in the same areas, but just getting outside for a small amount of time helps immensely!

The main hazard that I’ve had to stay alert for are the various stages of the slick surfaces that we walk on.  The snow isn’t that bad, but as the temperature plummets downward it starts to harden and become slippery.  Then when you add a small layer of ice… well it can get quite treacherous out there!

So… I’ve learned to master the shuffle step, the slide step and the automatic toe tap where you touch the surface before your next step in order to discern its stability!  But above every other technique, the most important is to simply WATCH YOUR STEP… and I am talking about each and every STEP! 

I allowed myself to get distracted the other day when we had stepped onto the road and began to walk when I noticed a gal making a raucous as she was trying to get something out of her car.  Well in that quick moment, I stepped on some black ice, lost my balance and began to go over backwards… but that God for a big dog… as I immediately pulled up on the lease and Fiver proved to be the unmovable force that steadied me and returned me to an upright position!  PTL!  Needless to say, he got an extra treat when we got home!

One of the habits that I discerned in my wife, early on in our dating relationship, was her uncanny ability to have a scripture for almost every event in her life.  The Bible was not only her source for the spiritual wisdom and direction in her life, but it also played a very tangible role for just about everything in her physical, day to day existence as well.  I can clearly remember the stunned looks on people’s faces (both in the church and in the secular world) when she would nonchalantly, but yet very positively, associate a particular verse that spoke into the present situation… in a very literal manner.  She’d say, ‘Well you know, the Word says…” and then encourage whomever she was conversing with to trust God’s specific Word on the subject… right then and there!  And they would say Huh? What? Well… Yea!  It does doesn’t it!

Well… I grabbed on to her revelation of the literal understanding of the scriptures and tend to do the same thing nowadays.  So… walking safely on the frozen snow and slippery ice was a prime candidate… and the verse of scripture that immediately came into my mind was Psalm 37:23 where the Psalmist declares:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (KJV) 

I’m pretty sure that you can see why this verse was such an obvious choice for me.  The Baptist writer and theologian John Gill, wrote in his mid-1700’s Exposition of the Old and New Testament, that the man spoken of in this verse,

“… is blessed of the Lord; the steps which he takes in life are ordered by the Lord, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual: his good conduct is not of himself, it is a blessing of the Lord, who directs and keeps the feet of his saints, and inclines them to take such steps, and pursue such methods, which he succeeds and prospers;”

In other words, this theologian… a few years before my lovely wife, also caught the revelation of the scripture’s very tangible validity and usage in both our natural and spiritual lives. 

As I studied this verse, I came to understand that the man (ie; person) being spoken of (or to) is actually more than just a ‘good’ man but is, in particular, a ‘strong’ and  ‘valiant’ man whose is more on the stature of a ‘warrior!’  Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions describes this individual as: “a strong man or warrior (emphasizing strength or ability to fight)”

The Message Bible calls this man a “Stalwart” which Dictionary.com defines as someone who is “strong, brave, valiant, firm, uncompromising and a steadfast supporter of an organization”– which in this case would refer to our Christian beliefs and personal faith.

The Psalmist is specifically talking about a man, woman, boy or girl who is strong and steady in their faith and valiantly stands firm when people or the physical situation around them is telling them that it’s not working and to give up! 

Yours and my job as that strong individual, is to be the unmovable force (like Fiver was to me on the ice) and allow the Lord to work in and behind the scenes in order to cause you to succeed and prosper… and by doing so… show Himself to be faithful to His Word that you are standing on!

Makes good sense to me… How about to you?

As long as we keep our eyes alert to the places He is directing us to STEP… as well as where NOT to STEP… we may SLIP and SLIDE and even occasionally FALL… but quickly find ourselves right back in an upward position…  And the very next verse in Psalm 37 tells us why

“We will not be thrown down headfirst because the LORD holds on to our hand.” (Psalm 37:24 - God’s Word ©) 

Have a great rest of your weekend… and wherever you may be… stay warm… stay alert… and Watch Your Step!!