Devotions with Holly Woodbridge

STEPS: A Pondering by Holly Woodbridge

Galatians 5:16-26 English Standard Version -Keep in step with the Spirit

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Steps, I thought very little about steps until I had a stroke.  Now, I have a mantra: heel, heel, heel… so I can remind my body to put my heel down first. As I Iay in my hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, I remembered a bit of the verses above; KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT. I may be a bit wobbly for the next few months as I learn to walk again, a very humbling place to be, but I am even more determined to keep in step with the Spirit.  I want to live for Jesus, come what may. This has been a tough one and I will sometimes still cry, but I am determined to make my life count for my King.

The psalmist said this about steps:
Psalm 37:23-24 King James Version 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
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I use a walker now, but it is God who holds me up!