“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

In these recent devotions, we have been talking about our posture—the various ways in which we position ourselves in relation to God and others: kneeling, sitting, standing, climbing, and now forward movement. I use this label rather than either walking or running (although these are definite implications), because the Bible is clear that regardless of our physical mobility, we are either moving toward or away from God. There is no in-between. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).

Walking with God is not always a piece of cake. The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan, is a wonderful allegory, told as a dream, about what it is like to journey through life from the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City,” otherwise known as Mt. Zion. There are all kinds of side-tracks, pitfalls, dangers, temptations, etc. along the way. This allegory is an accurate description of our life, from birth to death. It has always been a helpful way to describe my “walk” with the Lord, as a pilgrimage with my destination as eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

So, let us be purposeful in our forward movement.

• “You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:33).
• “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
• “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
• “So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

Let us move forward with the right sense of urgency.

• “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24).
• “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

And let us move forward, in step with God.

• “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11).
• “But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31). 

And a final word of encouragement. Not only does the Lord go in front of us, He also goes behind us. His Hand is on us always. We are never alone on our pilgrimage. Whether we see Him or not, He is there, both guiding and protecting us. I love this part of the Exodus Story, when the Israelites were approaching the seemingly insurmountable barrier of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his chariots on fast their heels: “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long” (Exodus 14:19-20). And we all know how that turned out!

“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:5).

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

In Christ,

Judy