Following looks a lot like trailing. We’re trailing behind, following the leader, definitely not leading nor leading the pack. We don’t know where we’re going, or if we do know where we’re going, we don’t know the way or have the chops for it. We may be afraid of getting lost, of snakes and poison ivy or worse. We know it will be an arduous journey till we get there. Oh man, we’re dreading it cuz we’re faint of heart.

Maybe you’re made of sterner stuff, and that’s commendable. Still, there are situations where you must follow a lead, though you’d rather do it yourself.. We shouldn’t think too highly of ourselves, but we need strong people to lead. However, they also must rely on instruments to get them or the group where they want to be. They still have to follow, in some respects. An effective leader must first learn to be a willing follower. A good follower becomes a good leader.

So, what does ‘following’ actually mean in the grand scheme of things.

Pacing

Pacing means a great deal in following, then we don’t get ahead of ourselves. We know our place, said in the current vernacular–our lane, our spot, where we thrive, bless, and are fully secure. This, our lane, will change as we change. It’s boundaries are fluid, always expanding or decreasing as we understand new concepts and embrace healthier lifestyles. We learn to maintain a constant state of being. Pacing means that we have balance in our lives. We’ve modulated our impulses, instead of our impulses driving us.

Surrender becomes a frequent occurrence, that is, if we are surrendering to the right things. Sometimes, we choose to bless by giving, which may include giving up getting our way for the sake of harmony and unity. I will insert a small disclaimer here, we must know what is at stake, should we give in, where the giving in would actually cause someone else to be irresponsible.

Following Christ’s Lead

Following Christ in not optional. Following Christ involves our will, which involves our daily stuff, which involves sacrifice, surrender, and obedience. “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light,” the Word tells us. We know this. It also involves blessedness, peacefulness, and belovedness as we enjoy the fruits of what God has for us in our faithfulness. It’s almost too much to grasp. My mind swims in awe of this reality.

Our love increases as our love for Christ increases. Remember playing ‘Follow the leader’ in grammar school? You mimicked the leader as you followed the leader in a line behind them. With Christ as our leader, we follow His wisdom and truth, which is always contemporary with society. We become ‘love’ to others since Christ’s Presence manifests itself in us. Let that thought grab you.

The Boldness in Following

Christ’s life in us speaks loudly. Why are we kind, truthful, helpful, gracious and caring? Christ. Christ in us. If we aren’t living His way, we’re not fully following the Leader. You should pause and take inventory every once in a while. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13). We have a Helper in this task of following Christ. The Spirit of truth guides us into all truth.

Although following is not an easy task, it’s doable. Just keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Let Christ’s Life and Word thoroughly wash in and through you. Imagine this. Christ and His Spirit becoming real in you. The Holy Spirit is alive. He speaks through you. His words become our words when we let Him have the use of our tongue in combination with our following Christ. This actually is an amazing concept.

We have power through the Spirit’s enabling. Think about it. You, as a Christian, have the Holy Spirit within you at this moment in time. He is there, in you; alive and well, in you. Helping you. Guiding you. Releasing His love in you. He is ministering to you, in you, and from you outwardly to others. Embrace what you have been given. Allow Him to have control of your life. Give God access to the throne of your life. The Three-in-one work together in you.

A mighty fortress is our God.

Let God help Himself to your life. Where are you holding back? Where are you weak or timid? What have you failed to grasp? God’s love? God’s acceptance? God’s healing? Tell God what you don’t get. Let Him enlarge it in you and break the barriers to accessing His truth. Confess what needs confessing. Let Him probe your heart to its innermost chambers. Write down what he shows you. Keep it as a reminder. I apply this to myself, as well.

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Now for a treat. I’ve been collecting positive stories for a while. I decided to share some of them with you. So, I leave you with this simple story seen on Twitter, 2020, written by A. White.

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A Positive Heartwarming Story by A. White

“When I was 4 years old, my mom had to stop by the station with me in tow.

Just as my mom started to turn left into a hallway, I saw him. Real. Live. In person. Mr. Rogers. DEAD AHEAD! I did not follow my mom, but bolted to my sweater-clad hero. I wrapped myself around his legs, sitting on his feet and screamed at full volume, MISTER ROGERS! I LOVE YOU!

My mother was mortified. But do you know what that saint of man did? He peeled me off his legs while sitting down on the floor next to me. And screamed, just as loud as I did, “AND I LOVE YOU, TOO!”

And to this day, I believe he meant it. Because that’s who Fred Rogers was: Loving.

When he found out my mom and (then) step-dad had a quiet courthouse wedding, he threw them a shower at the station because he said every marriage should be celebrated.

He genuinely was every bit of what you saw on TV.

Share this post with someone who might be blessed by it.”

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Go with God.

King David was trained as a shepherd boy to become a shepherd of the nation. He was astute in his leadership. King David was a shepherd at heart. He was becoming a shepherd by leaning on God. . .trusting in God, depending on God, and by doing the hard work of shepherding/leading a nation. His strength was in his military might and his spiritual beliefs. God called David, a man after His own heart.

Learning to lean is paramount to learning to lead. Leaning on Jesus for wisdom and truth guides us on our spiritual journey. Leaders who know they are dependent on God and have learned to depend on Him, realize their effectiveness comes from God. This is true even though they’ve nurtured their abilities and honed their skills as a leader.

Spiritual leaders tend to fail toward the end of their ministries because they get their eyes off Jesus and on their own wants, needs, and desires. They become enamored with themselves and have learned how to charm and manipulate. Oh, if they had just leaned on their Beloved Christ.

This knowledge about ‘leaning’ has the power to keep a leader from being puffed up, proud and arrogant. It should keep them humbled, leading with humility of spirit, and keeping the Spirit of God effectively leading their lives. True leaning says “I need you, God. You are everything to me. I wouldn’t get far without You.”

Yes, we make mistakes, we mess up, we get off-track. Anyone can derail at a moment’s notice. We need God. We desperately need Him. God has to carry us at times. Sometimes we just can’t do life. We may be depressed for days on end. The depression won’t leave, and hope has left us. We’re diminished.

But God is still there, alive and waiting. Maybe He’s saying to us, “Here, let me carry your burden. I can handle it. Trust Me.” Then He says, “Come to Me. Lean on Me. Trust Me with it.” Slowly your hope resurrects. His blessed breath fills your lungs. You are gloriously alive.

Leaning is important for a leader.

It’s critical for a Christian leader to keep their sights trained on God. When a church grows, it’s easy to think your leadership is the reason for the group’s success. You can see why that happens, especially in our current culture.

Leaning on Jesus, leaning into Jesus, leaning as a way of life keeps us secure and humble. One time before a trip to the East coast, I was extremely anxious. I was worried about a couple of health issues that could make the trip miserable for me. I was worried about the plane changes and my connecting flight.

Prior to the trip, at night when the worries were most intense, I would imagine myself leaning into Christ, actually leaning on His chest, and leaning on His everlasting arms. I was trusting Him for the journey before I took the journey. This practice of ‘leaning’ calmed my fears. That’s why I picked ‘leaning’ as one of the spiritual practices that help us.

I still get anxious before taking a trip. I’ve not conquered my fears in this regard. But I’ve got a great companion Who goes with me in the air and everywhere. Jesus is my silent companion. I lean and He is my stability.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms;

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

Elisha J. Hoffman

All we have comes from the Lord.

. . .

A Positive Heartwarming Story by B. Murdoch

“I am going to share something I experienced a few weeks ago when I went for my nighttime drive in the Mojave Desert. I was parked up on a hill overlooking highway 58. It was very dark, and I was seeking some one-on-one time with God. I was there for quite some time, when I looked to my left and I could see a silhouette coming towards me. I looked at this figure coming towards me, I put my pistol into my hand, not knowing what was about to unfold. When this person was a few feet away he smiled, I was still a bit unnerved. His clothes were very ragged, dirty, he looked very unkempt, (but no odor as you would expect), he had the whitest and brightest teeth, perfectly straight, But it was his eyes that got me. Bright blue, and his pupils were “Star” shaped. He spoke very softly, clearly, and very eloquently. None of that matched his appearance. He asked if I had a dollar I could spare, usually I turn them away, but this time, without thinking I gave him my only $20.00 bill I had. (I only had the $20). He put his hand on my arm, thanked me and disappeared back into the darkness the way he had come. A few minutes later I got this uncontrolled shiver, from head to toe, and a calmness came over me. I experienced some other things that night after he had left, but I am going to keep that to myself for now. I just thought I would share this part with you. GN GBU ALL”

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This is B. Murdoch’s true story in his own words, per my request. What he doesn’t share, is this. This occurred during a very difficult time in his life. He was a baby Christian (age 57ish) at the time of this writing.

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For we walk by faith, not by sight.

1 Corinthians 5:7

Anchoring our Faith in God

We know we’re in trouble. The boat is drifting, but we don’t want it to get away from us. We throw the anchor over the side so the drifting is kept to a minimum. Later, we pull the anchor to make our way to the dock. With some effort, we manage to get the boat to the pier. We secure the boat to the pier in two places, bow and stern. Once the boat is secured, we can leave it for a moment. We are trusting the ‘anchor’ to do its job.

I remember when our ski boat ran out of gas in one of the fingers of Lake Oroville (when the lake was full). My dad grabbed the oar and paddled the boat long way in. It was slow going, but we made it back just before twilight.

Anchoring a boat, or any object, for that matter, becomes necessary if we want the object to remain in a designated spot. Does it matter what the anchor looks like? Not especially. What does matter is its functionality. The anchor must be heavy. It must be strong. It must be designed to do the job. An anchor, anchors. It holds the object secure even when rough seas toss it about. Like with a paperweight, the papers can’t float around or be misplaced when they’re adequately secured.

Passages of Scripture are like an anchor to keep us secure during troubled times. I can remember the first time Scripture upheld me while in a dark season in my life. I was a freshman in college. I’d been dating my best friend’s brother, someone considered good looking, cool, and a ‘catch.’ I couldn’t believe that he liked me, a country gal, or country bumpkin, as the case may be. However, the relationship didn’t last long before he dumped me. But it hurt a lot, anyway. I’d really and intensely fallen for him. I had trouble getting over him. I still longed to be with him. I literally felt sick.

During the aftermath and for a few months thereafter, Psalm 27 ministered to me and sustained me. I read it, and read it, and read it. “The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). This chapter became real to me. I needed its words “The LORD is the stronghold of my life.” I anchored my thoughts in Psalm 27. Soon the words became a strength in me.

Another Example of ‘anchoring’

Back in 2008, my sister’s family went through a serious rough patch. Worry was my sister’s constant nemesis, though she kept it to herself and didn’t share how intense and precarious their situation had become. Their family business was affected. Then it got worse. The struggle increased. Someone encouraged my sister to read Psalm 91, and she did.

Every day my sister anchored herself in the Word. This verse became her north star, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Whenever she felt the worries piling up, this verse would come to mind. This chapter kept her thoughts centered throughout the years’ long ordeal. Looking back on those years, she can say, a battle was won. God was victor.

Through His words, God was saying to her that their family could trust Him to take care of them. She anchored herself in Psalm 91, reading it daily. It settled her when the fears were overpowering, when worries of what could happen overwhelmed her and threatened to get the better of her. She learned to trust in God when it all seemed utterly impossible. Her faith grew. She knew God would not abandon them. Many times He supplied their needs when they couldn’t see one step in front of them. The months of doing without and fearing the worst took a visible toll on them.

I could insert long paragraphs about the choices they made as their reality unfolded, but that’s their story to tell. Suffice it to say, God stripped way all that they had depended on and became their enough. Make no mistake, it was hard going, though they were uncomplaining. They came out of it in a different place spiritually than when they initially entered the crisis. Their faith had grown deeper. God had proved true to His Word. Now my sister and her husband irrefutably know that their Redeemer lives.

Our faith becomes sight as we anchor ourselves in the truths of God and His Word. Has this happened to you? Have you been so distressed that the thing seems impossible? Have you cried, “Lord, help me” when it all was too much? Did Christ help you? Did Christ come in and make a way through the desert when you utterly could not see the way? Was He your enough? It is in times like these that we hold on to faith and dive deep, deeper than we thought possible. We hold on for dear life to what is secure, to the Who of our Security, the Rock on which we stand.

The old hymn says it well.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love!

Priscilla J. Owens

Sustainability

God is good to us. He knows what we need before we need it. I love His incredible ‘present’ Presence. We go through seasons of ‘want’ that teach us about sustainability in our faith. Suffering has a purpose that we can only fully realize by going through it. It is then that we grow deeper in faith and spiritual experience.

It is then that we can put on the garment of faith that’s spun during the dark nights of limited light, when we faithfully and fearfully cling to the promises that are locked eternally in Scripture. For years, I clung to these promises from God. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19), and “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It was hard for me as I learned to trust, really TRUST and BELIEVE in God, the Forever Shepherd Who cares for His sweet ones, His beloved sheep. When I was vulnerable, weak, and traumatized, God knew it. God gently led me to where I was ready to receive my healing, freeing, and wholeness.

Anchoring your faith looks like that. It holds you secure as you go through the tumultuous storm. You trust in the unseen. Your faith becomes sight as you learn to trust in God and His faithfulness to you. Anchor yourself in His Word. It will hold you up, give you confidence and peace while you trudge this earthly veil of tears.

Heartwarming Story

“Yesterday it was the sweetest. We setup our Christmas tree in the evening and Braxton and Brailyn (our foster children, ages 4 and 6) were so enthralled. These two seem to have such minimal typical life experiences. It was just magical watching their eyes light up. Braxton was just staring at the tree once it was done and said, “the Christmas tree is very beautibul. It’s very beautibul.”

-Post on Facebook, by my daughter, 11-28-21

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God bless you on your spiritual journey.