Keep My Steps

“Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:33

While I’m still not going to stores very often, I have started making occasional trips to places like Jewel and Target. I’m thankful that people are wearing their masks both well and willingly. One thing I’ve noticed is that some stores have placed helpful directional stickers on the floor, indicating traffic should flow in a particular direction down this or that aisle. I’ve also noticed, however, that I seem to be the only person noticing these stickers. People are respectful of one another, but they don’t seem too interested in following directions.

I wonder if this is how God feels. Whatever humanity’s problem, it is not a lack of clarity regarding the expectations of our Creator. Still, we wander off down our own paths as if we don’t even understand what we’ve seen and heard from our God. Why, God must wonder, do they keep going the wrong way?

It reminds me of my first trip to Germany when, walking around various cities, I wondered what Einbahnstraße had done to get so famous. Mr. or Mrs. Einbahnstraße sure had a lot of streets named in their honor! I saw the signs but was incapable of understanding them on my own, let alone following their directions (it’s a very good thing that I was walking, not driving).

Our psalm for this coming Sunday includes a prayer that God would keep our steps steady according to God’s promise. God’s invitation to walk in God’s ways is not a fearful command, but a gracious call to walk with God. Christ the Shepherd has found us and has set our feet back on the right path. May we follow the directions God lovingly sets before us, loving God with heart, soul, and mind, and loving neighbor as much as self. We can’t do this on our own, but we are not on our own. Christ himself walks with us, thanks be to God.

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God, your will for your people is clear: Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly. We keep wandering off. Forgive us, and steady our steps, that we might walk in your ways, this day and forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: An advertisement for a “One-Way Aisle” floor sticker.