Walking on a Leash

One weekend walking around in Denver I took this picture of my feet walking across the street. Later that night I was looking at all the picture I had taken throughout that day and it made me realize how many places our feet take us. I had that realization and then God lead me to this analogy and has helped me make sense of it over the past few weeks:

When a dog is first learning how to walk on a leash, they are often times uncomfortable and don't like the change that they are experiencing. Sometimes they might get angry and try to slip out of their collars or harnesses or even try to bite the rope or leash that is restricting them from running freely. When we are being lead into a new season, situation, or something similar (how many "s" words can I use in a row?) we too can become uncomfortable and try to run in a different direction than we are being lead towards. But just like dogs eventually get used to the leash, we too get used to the path that God is leading us down. Sooner than we might expect, we will be running to Him with the leash begging Him to take us farther and walk with us deeper into the path that is being seat in front of us.

Change is not always all sunshine and rainbows. But thats ok! From the very beginning of time there have been countless challenges that have come upon all different people. Still they all make it to their destination and often times beyond where they thought they were going to be going. One thing that most of us if not all of us can relate to is making the move from either elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school, or for some of us even from college out into the real world. These transitions are ones that we know are coming months or even years before they come. So we have time to plan for them. We have time to mentally and physically prepare ourselves for the change. We can plan out what we are going to wear on our last and first days of each. We can plan who is going to be by our side when we walk across that stage to receive our diploma. We get more than enough time to say our hellos and our goodbyes.

The things that we know are coming are significantly easier than, say the things that come unto us unexpectantly. Such as moving out of state, an unexpected diagnosis, or even an unwanted loss.When something comes and hits us out of no where and we didn't have time to prepare ourselves for it, it can rock our life boat more than we think it can. But just like a dog owner would never just let their dog run wild, our Owner always has us wrapped in His arms and hidden underneath His wing. As hard as it can be in these times, we need to continue to push in and pursue the thing that we were put on this Earth to do. We continually need to be devoted to surrounding ourselves with all things positive and removing anything negative. Forever and always we are surrounded by the love of the Creator. This past year I have been concentrating on giving God access to absolutely anything and everything inside of me. I made the decision that I was no longer going to try and plan out every aspect of my life the way that I wanted to. But instead say yes to whatever He wants me to do. By taking this approach there has been so much weight lifted off of my shoulders. Like everyone else and all the dogs in the world I have tried to slip out of my collar and run as far as I could from the things that I was being lead towards. In the end though I always find myself sprinting back to the guidance of our Heavenly Father and the people, places, and things He has placed in my life.

As tempting as it might be sometimes, we have to, have to, HAVE TO resist setting our minds on the things of this world. Romans 12:2 TPT is one of the many verses that come into my mind when I catch myself starting to slip into the ways of this world. It say "Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God's will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes." The only way that we can truly and fully be transformed by the Holy Spirit is if we surrender all that we are and every past belief we have to the Lord and invite Him into the space where we are. Whether or not we are in His house or simply driving to work in the morning in our car He will meet us in the exact place that we are. Time and time again He comes close to us even when we don't ask Him to.

There are times that we come into His presence that we need to simply say "I'm sorry, thank you for forgiving me of _____." It is in these moments that we can and do see immediate change in our moods, attitudes towards a situation, and actions. The word repentance can seem highly intimidating and scary when it is spoke in a church service or anything of the sorts. But when you look at the definition of what it really means and what the Bible says about it, it's not nearly as daunting. According to the all knowing Google, repentance means "sincere regret or remorse." So when someone says that they need to repent, what they are really saying is that they need to apologize for something they have done. Luke 24:47 NCV says "and that a change of heart and lives and forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, starting at Jerusalem." I really love this verse because not only does it show that God wants His people to bring all things to Him, but it also shows that there will be forgiveness given back in return. What more could we ever ask for? Forgiveness from the Heavenly Father is a gift that I will never get an less excited to receive. When we repent we know that there will be breakthrough given in return

Our feet have the ability to take us to places we never thought possible. When our feet are lead by the King ABOVE all Kings we can break every stronghold that attempts to hold us down. We can and need to run to the Fathers feet and ask Him to take us deeper on the path that He has created specifically for us and no one else.

Challenge: Trust in the process that you are undergoing. Hold firm to the freedom that you have but still allow yourself to be lead and guided by the hand of God. Surrender any part of you that you could possibly be holding onto still. Repent for not allowing Him to have full control of all things. Trust Him in the coming weeks and months and hold on tight because He is going to take you places you never imagined going before.

Prayer: Jesus, Jesus, JESUS! I thank you time and time agin for everything you have done and will do for us. In this moment I want to lift each person up to you. I ask you to revel anything that they are holding onto to them. I pray that they would surrender their whole being to you. Anything that needs to be repented I pray that you would revel that to them in this exact moment. I thank you for not giving up on us and for continuing to guide us deeper into the life that you have planned out for us and only us. You are an amazing Father and we just thank you for taking us all the places you already have taken us. Lord we exalt you as we look ahead to the plans that you have in store in our futures for us. We love you so so so much. Thank you for all things. Amen