hiking

Isaiah 32-33, Romans 14

As Brandi and I were hiking a trail in the Franklin Mountain State Park this morning, I was reminded of some spiritual analogies between hiking and our walk with Christ:

• He is our guide, and
  
• we need to watch Him closely and follow close behind Him.
• we need to listen carefully to Him as He tells us where the trustworthy footholds and handgrips are.
• as we are going along, we need to learn His character, not just His directional instructions.
  
• We make the ascent with a team, and
• we help others along.
• we let others help us.
  
• we take care of each other.
• we enjoy each others' company.
• The trail is challenging, and
• the safe path is narrow.
• we need to know the climber's manual for safe climbing principles.
  
• we need to take rest breaks along the way.
• we need to pause and look beyond the trail to see the scenery around us.
• we need to enjoy the journey, because the quintessence of the journey is to know Christ, not just to get to the destination.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to walk with Christ into eternity.  Lord, thank you for a wonderful wife who is such a great climbing partner.  Lord, please draw us to you, and I pray that we will help others in our walk together.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.