TAKE THE NEXT STEP

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus – Philippians 3:14

God is dynamic! He is always on the Move. At creation, His Spirit moved on the face of the deep, waiting for the release of the Word (Gen.1:2). Jesus in His earth-walk was always on the move: “How God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who went about…” (Acts 10:38a). Our dynamic God has always raised dynamic people to walk with Him, walk before Him, or follow in His Steps. Genesis 5:24 says, “And Enoch walked with God…” God told Abraham: “…I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Gen.17:1). While he paused before the Red Sea, Jehovah commanded Moses: “Quit praying and get people moving! Forward march!” (Ex.14: 15 TLB).

The apostle Paul knew he had not “arrived” spiritually, and that he had a long way to go in becoming like Christ. He could either fixate on the past, with its failure, disappointments, struggles, and conflicts; or he could learn from those things and press on to “what’s next.” He decided on the latter. Paul chose to forget: “those things which are behind” and reach forward “to those things which are ahead.” He pressed “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13-14). His attitude was to move on and embrace what’s next. This should be the attitude of everyone who seeks to be shaped into the Image of the Saviour, while looking forward to eternity with Him.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom.8:14). However great, grand or gigantic your assignments may be, God wants you to always know the next step to take. He wants to enable and empower you to take a step further with Him in the pathway of Purpose. Remember: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delights in his way” (Ps.37:23). It does not matter the barriers on the way, or how tough the journey has been, you must never give in to emotional inertia or mental paralysis.

God has programmed you for progress and designed you for development. You must never submit to stagnancy. Take Action NOW! Make that call. Write that letter. Publish that tract. Package that book. Lay that foundation. Set on that journey. Make that visit. Master that subject. Restore that relationship. Pursue that course. Embark on that Fasting and Prayer project. Study that book in the Bible. Reach out to that soul. Fulfill that ministry. Take that Next Step with God!