Song

(Originally posted on May 17; re-posted to correct video problems)

There's a song by Rich Mullins that I just love and it's been rolling through my mind all day. I won't copy the whole thing here, but the title is "Sometimes by Step" (sometimes you see it as "Step by Step" or "Oh God You are My God"). It could be the theme song for my walk with Jesus.

I've experienced God calling me away from one thing without knowing where (at the time) I'm being sent. Hebrews 11:8 (NLT): "It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going." It's a hard path to take - trusting God to lead you without all the information you'd really like to have ahead of time. But, like the song says, we follow "step by step" and "learn to walk in your ways". Thank God it's a learning process!

Too often, though, I focused on the first part of that verse and somehow overlooked the part about the inheritance God promised Abraham. When I took the time to focus on the inheritance God had blessed me with, as a result of following him on a difficult path, it took my breath away! What an awesome God we serve. I had become so busy with doing what I felt I was called to do - like an assignment to complete - that I almost missed the blessing and almost missed a huge reason to just stop and praise God for his goodness.

In my much-loved song, there is this verse:

Sometimes I think of Abraham

How one star he saw had been lit for me

He was a stranger in this land

And I am that, no less than he

And on this road to righteousness

Sometimes the climb can be so steep

I may falter in my steps

But never beyond Your reach.

Discipleship - following Jesus - is a joy, a blessing, a transformational experience, a steep climb, a rocky road . . . . but OH the blessings! Even though we clearly have a choice to say 'yes' or 'no' to the Lord, in my heart of hearts I have no choice. All I want to do is answer the Lord's call to follow him - up that steep road if need be - because when I see his faithfulness, his care, the "inheritance" he is providing and has provided, it just leaves me stunned. The only response is to praise him and watch in awe as he works out his plans and purposes in my life.

Oh God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

Oh God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

I will seek You in the morning

And I will learn to walk in Your ways

And step by step You'll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days