Why must we always put our feet where we know there is a problem? I knew the vacuum cleaner plug was on the stairs. I knew it. I intended to avoid it, but I stepped squarely on it with the big cleaner machine in my arms. Ohhhh, it could have been disaster! God protected me (and there is no hole in my wall).
Don’t Go There!
I wonder how many times He protects me when my feet are pointed in the wrong direction? Sometimes I can hear the warnings, “don’t go there” or “don’t do this, it will hurt you.” Sometimes I heed the warnings and other times, sadly, I ignore them. And after the consequential pain, I face repentance from my actions.
When I look down the staircase or into the pit (funny how it never looks like it really is! I never see a pit, I see fun and games, or a sneaky way around something I don’t want to do, or a way to make myself look good, or…) and when my feet are poised for a dangerous leap, I know I should not go there. But I feel helpless to resist the pull of the sin. It’s only going to cause pain and separation from Him, or harm to someone else, but I hear the siren song. I jump. And as an old popular lyric once said, “my feet give in to go.”
Banner Rescue
Only God can rescue me. How grateful I am that my Father sees my footsteps before I do. He is patient and kind. He waits until my sin punches me in the jaw, or the stomach or somewhere else that hurts as I fall until I finally get wise enough to climb out of the hole. Then He throws His Banner of Love over me. I don’t deserve it. But I come to my senses, pull that banner close about me and snuggle in. Like a blankie on a lap.
He has promised that He will not let any who belong to Him be snatched from out of His hand. Even when we’ve blown it. He is still there, holding His Banner of Love over us.
Such mercy. Such grace. Undeserved, yet freely given.
Praise Him.
“Fix your eyes on things above and He will see you through…” Col 3:1-4.
Oh, that beautiful banner, weightlessly dropping over us, an needed and everlasting grace. Thanks for this post. Sorry about your foot. Aiiii. So glad you didn’t fall down the stairs. Here’s to the day we respond to even the smallest nudge!!
Aw shucks. That was a while ago, but I sure have to be careful when vacuuming the stairs! Yep, so glad, too, that our Lord is there to catch us with grace.
Romans 7:15-20New International Version (NIV)
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Describes me pretty well. Good post, Sis.
Yes, indeed!