Watch Your Step
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| Springs of Living Water will flow from those who believe in Him–Butchart Gardens, Canada |
I have fallen a couple of times lately and this has made me more careful. My steps, especially at night, are strategically placed, I am aware of the pavement beneath my feet, and I check out my surroundings. When I went sailing off a 6″ drop off, landing a perfect face plant in the cement, I laid there momentarily. Mentally I was checking out my body parts, beginning with my head.
I was rattled but what hurt the most was my pride. I had met the cement face down in the dark immediately following a theatrical play which we had attended with friends. As they had left the dance theatre heading in a different direction, I hoped that no one saw me.
The next time the earth pulled me to itself was also at night. In order to avoid desert insects, I went around a car parked on a slated driveway. Stepping with my left foot, I was off balance, and I again did a two-step with the ground–back down first this time. It was not a pleasant experience as my head jerked forward, my teeth rattled, my left leg scrapped against the ground~and this time, I wondered if I had broken something.
These experiences have made me so cautious, that yesterday while cleaning our bathroom blinds, I carefully placed my feet along the wide swath of marble bordering the tub. And every time I moved, I looked down to determine how much space I had.
Now, I am extremely cautious about not falling. But what about falling spiritually, I thought. Am I as cautious about not falling into sin? Do I carefully examine my spiritual surroundings, assess the temptation that is being presented and turn away so that I will not fall into sin? Repeatedly, I fall into the same sin. How long before I learn to avoid that trap of falling.
Because the spiritual fall may not cause as much hurt as the spiritual one, we sometimes abuse God’s grace and mercy by sliding into the same sin frequently. I thought, while I was perched on my bathtub ledge that I needed to be as careful with my spiritual life as I am with my physical life. God is merciful and gracious to forgive us of our sins but repetitious sin smacks of a lack of desire to please God or be truly repentant.
Each time I fall into sin, I am separating myself from the one who can keep me standing. Teetering on the edge, I lose my balance and slip in ceasing to be the fountain of Christ’s life to others. My balancing act for my spiritual life needs to be as conscious as the one for my physical life.
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38 NIV
To believe in Him means to obey Him. What’s throwing you off balance today? Mine is overeating.
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Well said sweetie.
Excellent, excellent post Janis! What a fantastic illustration/analogy for a spiritual lesson.
I am sorry you have fallen a few times. I wish that had not happened to you, but praise God, your spiritual ears are open to this powerful message, so we can all be blessed by it…
I agree, a physical fall hurts at times, far more than a spiritual one… but this pain to our body is temporal.. but are sin can be far more impacting than that.
wonderful post, i agree with you, it’s good we have a gracious and merciful God who helps us when we desire and willingly change and leave our sin.
Blessings!
That rings super true for me…had a wonderful fall in the bedroom a few weeks back…bruises are fading well now. God was so good in that I missed furniture but fell on my knees (both replaced) and walking on them to the bed to get up is no fun. It is a great parallel to remember the worse dangers in falling spiritually.
My post is about angelic charge over us.
I’m so glad you weren’t hurt. If those falls had to happen I’m glad God gave you these thoughts to share with us. It really is something to think about. Thank you!
Glad to hear that the main thing bruised was your pride. I loved the way you described your fall as the earth pulling you towards itself. Which is exactly way our “pet” sins tend to be but as we abide more in Him they come to loose their magnetic pull.
Janis…this is such a beautiful, honest reflection. I too am prone to “fall.”
I have to tell you, I JUST finished up my lessons for a Friday Girl’s Bible Study that I teach and we’re doing a “living water” devo…we’re making water bottle wraps to give away to the school and of course they have, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38 NIV” on them!
I LOVE when God confirms!
Wonderful visit!
peace,
lori
Great words here! My sister-in-law has fallen twice in the last month and injured her hand and foot. But as much pain as that has to be, falling spiritually is much worse. Thank you for this reminder. God bless you!
What a great post on a wonderful verse! Thank you and have a wonderful WFW!
Thank you all for visiting today. Your encouraging words and thoughts have brought joy to my heart.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
Blessings Janis,
I’m so sorry to hear about your ‘falls’ and pray that you are alright and continue to watch yourself and surroundings!
I really love this photo and the chosen verse on our Living Water! What a fantastic comparison of the spiritual and physical falls with such wisdom and spiritual practical lesson. The fall did not shake any screws loose anyway (lol)…
Not sure of my stumbling block or what is keeping me off balance but I know that mu full balance lies in Him and being in His Word! Praying we both stay far from falling and watch our steps and surroundings. Thank you for such well written wisdom for us grounded in His Word and Living Water!!!
Peace,
Peggy
Thank you, Peggy, for your good thoughts about my health. I am doing fine as the last fall was about a month ago. Thank you even more for additional prayers to keep us both on “balance” in Him.
Thank you for visiting.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
Thanks for visiting my blog. The picture is beautiful and the verse is comforting. So glad you did not get hurt. I fell several months ago, I think I must have been sleepwalking because I don’t remember getting up. When I ran into a recliner and started falling I woke up and called my husband. I hit my head on my dresser and I think I knocked something loose in my earx as a few weeks later I had some dizziness that sent me to PT. When you come out of our bathroom door you either go downstairs or in the bedroom. I have no idea where I went but I do believe God was guiding me.
Blessings, AE
What a great devotional to go with this lovely photo and wonderful verse from the Word of God. I could totally relate as I broke my foot earlier this year – just from stepping off a curb funny! It’s scary and frustrating and does make us think twice, doesn’t it! I still play tag with my grandkids, but I’m noticing I’m doing it a bit more cautiously. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by SandwichINK as well 🙂
Really wise words here, Janis. Frankly, I have never given much consideration, or pragmatic prevention of, spiritual falling. You’re right –I’m much more careful about my physical well-being than I am about my spiritual well-being.
Janis, be careful!! I know how an unexpected fall can really shake you up. I had one myself in September. But what a great message you took out of that. No, I also take my spiritual balance for granted sometimes. And I don’t attend to staying spiritually fit and aware.
What’s throwing me off balance today? Not trusting God’s timing…in many areas of my life and that of my family.
GOD BLESS, Janis – please take care!!
What a great analogy — if only we were as careful with the spiritual as we are with the spiritual. I definitely want to hold tight to the One who holds EVERYTHING in balance!