Pathways

Yesterday I went for a walk on Epsom Downs, to clear my head, get some fresh air, and have a pray.

The start of the 2010 has been an interesting time for us, we’ve committed January to seek the face of God and his will for the rest of the year and already we’ve experienced highs and lows during this time, there have already been some frustrations and some disappointments, but one thing that seems very very clear is that God is calling us to walk a new path into un-chartered territory… at least for us.

Back to the Downs, as I was strolling over the hills I was heading in the general direction of my car which at the time was out of sight and found myself travelling along a already beaten track through the rough grass, as I neared the top of the hill I could see my car in the distance but for some strange reason I felt almost compelled to keep walking on the path that had been previously trodden, the odd thing is that this path would have eventually led me in completely the wrong direction,  I could see that, yet for some reason, I still felt drawn towards it, I had to make a conscious choice to leave the path and go in the direction of my car, over the rough ground.

It was at this point, I just felt the holy spirit whisper to me, sometimes following the paths that have being walked before us eventually end up leading us to the wrong destination, so when following the holy spirit, his leading and his guiding we have to make a conscious choice to step out of the familiar and walk a new path. Of course there are risks involved as its not easy to see where you’re going, it’s not all clean cut and tidy, but one thing the Lord has been speaking to me about recently is the need for courage in our walk with Christ, we have to be prepared to embrace the unknown after all faith isn’t faith until it’s all you’ve got.

I think it was Einstein, who said “doing the same things and expecting different results is madness” and for me I have to agree with that, it seems so much of our Christianity is the walk of the familiar, the routine, the comfortable and sadly, this just eventually turns into religion (form without power) there’s so much power in Christ yet to walk with him means listening, being led, surrendering our own wills and agendas, and from time to time leaving the beaten path.

I can’t say I know where the rest of 2010 is going to lead but I am pretty sure that I / we can find ourselves walking through some new territory, new ground, which to some could be scary, stepping out of the box often is, but equally it could be exhilarating, rewarding, inspiring, much of which is all about how we perceive things. Some people fear change, some people love change, but for me one thing is very very clear, so much needs to change.

So for me, it’s “yes Lord” to quote a song I wrote several years ago “I will follow where you lead”