Orange Moon Saturday, May 10, 2025 "The Next Step"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"The Next Step"  

    

      

     Only the next step in our relationship and fellowship with God lies before us.  We cannot retrace the path of the past, nor can we take steps beyond the one at hand.  We proceed from where we are, and as believers, we recognize every "next step" requires the guidance and enabling of our Lord.  

    "Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee" (Psalm 143:8).

   We do not possess the capacity nor the need to pray specifically about each step we take.  We rather pray preemptively, as it were, trusting that as we "trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thine own understanding… He shall direct thy steps" (Proverbs 3:5).  Frequently, however, we do check in with our Heavenly Father to affirm our confidence in His leading, and sometimes we seek specific guidance about particularly challenging matters.  He responds through the light of His Word, the leading of His Spirit, the help of our fellow believers, enabling of clear thinking, and His providential ordering of circumstances, situations, and conditions.  We do not always respond to His guidance, and must confess our waywardness when we become aware of missteps.  Most importantly, we trust that our Guide and Enabler fulfills His role perfectly, and as we look to Him, we will respond more faithfully and consistently.  "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye" (Psalm 32:8).

    Many "next steps" await us throughout this day.  Some we will rightly anticipate as we look to our Lord, and some will challenge us in the moment.  All will be taken in His presence and providence, and He will be prepared for every step and misstep we take.  God made us for such a journey, and redeemed us through the Lord Jesus Christ to accompany us to the degree He declares, "I will dwell in them and walk in them" (II Corinthians 6:16).  Indeed, the most important truth of the next step for the believer is that it will be taken with God at hand and in heart.  Realizing and affirming such truth goes far in preparing us to respond in faith and obedience to His promised guidance of our next step…

"This is the way; walk ye in it."

(Isaiah 30:21)

"For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name's sake lead me, and guide me."

(Psalm 31:3)

Weekly Memory Verse  

   He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

 (Matthew 13:58)

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