“…he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3
“Mercy, you’re not going to fit through the dog door in your wheelchair!” I exclaimed to the ministry’s paralyzed dog Miss Mercy as I led her outside so we could walk together. She was so excited for us to go on our walk together in the beautiful sunshine-y day that she had poked her sweet little head through the flap of the dog door used by some of the ministry’s other dogs so she could get outside on our walk as quickly as possible. Of course this wouldn’t work. She needed my help. Instead of trying to push through a dog door she would never fit through or get to the other side of the door to the destination she so eagerly awaited without any help, she needed me to open the door and for us to cross together over the threshold to the glorious heaven-sent hot southern August outdoors. Moments later, after I opened the door for her and helped her manipulate her wheelchair onto the special dog wheelchair ramp for her and paralyzed dog Mr. Simeon and dog without eyes Glory, we eagerly found ourselves walking together through the grass to get to the little dirt and gravel country road.
As soon as I told Miss Mercy she couldn’t get through the door, I knew God had a message. Less than 24 hours before, a beloved friend had strongly encouraged me to remember what God had told me long ago about needing to stop banging on doors He had not at least as of yet opened let alone would perhaps ever open. God, she reminded me, needed to lead the way. Walking with the Lord by trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, by learning to faithfully follow Him and His ways rather than the world’s ways is all about letting the Spirit of God lead the way. Letting Him open the doors He desires when He desires, letting Him maneuver us onto ramps, through grass, onto dirt and gravel roads, winding around pathways, stepping from stone to stone, carrying us over dangerous waters, delivering us from temptations, ordering our steps (Psalm 37:23), lighting our way with His Word (Psalm 119:105), guiding us by His Spirit, teaching us what it truly means to walk with Him. Oh, what joy Miss Mercy and I had once we found ourselves walking together in the bright sunshine, the heat wrapped around my shoulders like strong loving arms reminding me in retrospect of God’s everlasting arms holding me through this life as He teaches me to walk with Him. But the joy Miss Mercy and I shared on our walk together was nothing compared with the unfathomable joy and peace I find when I let the Spirit of Christ lead me down the pathway of His righteousness as I walk with the Lord!
Do you sense God’s Spirit beckoning you, whispering in your heart, “Will you walk with me?”