Or, These Boots Are Made For Walking
Last week I wrote about the word 'cadence', and hit it more from the angle of a marching band drumline. This week I want to attack it from the military point of view.
As I mentioned in the previous post, a military cadence was used to keep all of the soldiers in 'dress' or moving in step and formation as a unit. All marching to the same beat.
I have to admit, I have been having struggles lately. I know how much God loves me. I know He has given me a purpose and meaning in this life. I know that He has done the miraculous in my life before. Healing me of fibromyalgia, doing the miraculous in my family and friends lives. But there are days where weariness gets the best of me. There are days that I want to stop and just wallow. I want to stay in that place of self pity and doubt and not move. Stop the world and let me off please.
But that is not what I am called to do. I am called to keep going. I am called to do good. Galations 6:9 says this, "Don't grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up (NIV)".
I know that God answers prayers, in His time. They say God answers in three ways; Yes, no and not yet. I get that. But there are times when I see others suffering and I want those answers now. I see my family hurting. I see those that are lost and dying. I see young men and women sick with cancer. I see families torn apart by alcoholism and by depression. I see the ravages of sin and it's affect on the world around me and I get angry. And at times I get discouraged. I had a day like that last week. If I had had the option I would have stayed in bed and pulled the covers up over my head. I didn't, so I tried to go about business as usual. But my walk was off that day. My step wasn't sure and strong. I was faltering.
I got in my car and turned on the radio and heard a song by TobyMac called "Move". How I needed to hear that song at that time. And the beat or cadence was moving to say the least. These are some of the lyrics:
I know your heart been broke again
I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet
I know you’re feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet
The military cadence's purpose was to help those soldiers keep moving. As they were running drills, you know they got tired. You know there were days that to try to take one more step was just too much. But it had been drilled into their heads to keep in step with those cadences. It had been ingrained into their very being to not stop marching. They didn't have that option. It was part of their duty and their responsibility. It not only became what they did, it became who they were. They knew that those drills were for their own good. When war comes, they rely on that training and discipline.
The same for us as Christians. Who we are and what we do are intricately woven together. We are His and we are called to do His will. We are called to keep walking, to keep doing good.
Picture those soldiers doing their drills. They aren't wearing lightweight running shoes. They are wearing their military issue combat boots. These aren't the pretty shiny shoes they wear for ceremonies. These are the tried and true heavy duty boots made to endure in the worst of conditions. By the time their drill was over, they may be covered in dust, mud, who knows what else. But no matter how heavy those boots got, they kept going. They did not stop. They didn't want to let their platoon down, they didn't want to let their drill sergeant down. They marched for a greater purpose.
We do the same. We have a greater purpose than just getting up every day. We are more than our work routine. We are more than a job or housework or studies. We are children of God and are called to share His gospel. Called to share the hope and faith that we have in Him.
Yes there are days we get tired. There are days we get discouraged. But we have a greater hope. We have a God who has promised us rest when we are weary (Matthew 11:28). He promises that if we give Him our burdens He will take care of us; "Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders; he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out". (Psalm 55:22, The Message)
He does not say to stop walking, He says He will help us. I picture a soldier carrying a heavy pack. He walks, he grows weary. Along comes someone who takes that pack and says, ok now keep going. Keep walking. That is who God is. He promises that as we keep going, that if we will give Him our burdens, He is faithful to take them from us and give us the strength to carry on. He does not demand our burden from us, we must willingly give them to Him. And then not play tug of war with Him over them.
He doesn't promise an easy road. He doesn't promise there will be no hard times. He does promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. He promises that His plans for us are for our good. He promises us that He loves us with an everlasting love. He promises us that He will be with us always.
Always. Even when it is dark all around us. Even when the enemy comes in to deter us from our mission. Even when the road is filled with landmines and there seems no sure way.
He is that sure way. He is the way, the truth and the life. He has given us all that we need to move forward in this life. He has kitted us out and prepared us. Now we just need to get these boots walking.
If you want to hear that song by TobyMac, here is a link
https://youtu.be/MX1G71WK-FA
As I mentioned in the previous post, a military cadence was used to keep all of the soldiers in 'dress' or moving in step and formation as a unit. All marching to the same beat.
I have to admit, I have been having struggles lately. I know how much God loves me. I know He has given me a purpose and meaning in this life. I know that He has done the miraculous in my life before. Healing me of fibromyalgia, doing the miraculous in my family and friends lives. But there are days where weariness gets the best of me. There are days that I want to stop and just wallow. I want to stay in that place of self pity and doubt and not move. Stop the world and let me off please.
But that is not what I am called to do. I am called to keep going. I am called to do good. Galations 6:9 says this, "Don't grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up (NIV)".
I know that God answers prayers, in His time. They say God answers in three ways; Yes, no and not yet. I get that. But there are times when I see others suffering and I want those answers now. I see my family hurting. I see those that are lost and dying. I see young men and women sick with cancer. I see families torn apart by alcoholism and by depression. I see the ravages of sin and it's affect on the world around me and I get angry. And at times I get discouraged. I had a day like that last week. If I had had the option I would have stayed in bed and pulled the covers up over my head. I didn't, so I tried to go about business as usual. But my walk was off that day. My step wasn't sure and strong. I was faltering.
I got in my car and turned on the radio and heard a song by TobyMac called "Move". How I needed to hear that song at that time. And the beat or cadence was moving to say the least. These are some of the lyrics:
I know your heart been broke again
I know your prayers ain’t been answered yet
I know you’re feeling like you got nothing left
Well, lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet so
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
Move, keep walkin’ until the mornin’ comes
Move, keep walkin’ soldier keep movin’ on
And lift your head, it ain’t over yet, ain’t over yet
The military cadence's purpose was to help those soldiers keep moving. As they were running drills, you know they got tired. You know there were days that to try to take one more step was just too much. But it had been drilled into their heads to keep in step with those cadences. It had been ingrained into their very being to not stop marching. They didn't have that option. It was part of their duty and their responsibility. It not only became what they did, it became who they were. They knew that those drills were for their own good. When war comes, they rely on that training and discipline.
The same for us as Christians. Who we are and what we do are intricately woven together. We are His and we are called to do His will. We are called to keep walking, to keep doing good.
Picture those soldiers doing their drills. They aren't wearing lightweight running shoes. They are wearing their military issue combat boots. These aren't the pretty shiny shoes they wear for ceremonies. These are the tried and true heavy duty boots made to endure in the worst of conditions. By the time their drill was over, they may be covered in dust, mud, who knows what else. But no matter how heavy those boots got, they kept going. They did not stop. They didn't want to let their platoon down, they didn't want to let their drill sergeant down. They marched for a greater purpose.
We do the same. We have a greater purpose than just getting up every day. We are more than our work routine. We are more than a job or housework or studies. We are children of God and are called to share His gospel. Called to share the hope and faith that we have in Him.
Yes there are days we get tired. There are days we get discouraged. But we have a greater hope. We have a God who has promised us rest when we are weary (Matthew 11:28). He promises that if we give Him our burdens He will take care of us; "Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders; he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out". (Psalm 55:22, The Message)
He does not say to stop walking, He says He will help us. I picture a soldier carrying a heavy pack. He walks, he grows weary. Along comes someone who takes that pack and says, ok now keep going. Keep walking. That is who God is. He promises that as we keep going, that if we will give Him our burdens, He is faithful to take them from us and give us the strength to carry on. He does not demand our burden from us, we must willingly give them to Him. And then not play tug of war with Him over them.
He doesn't promise an easy road. He doesn't promise there will be no hard times. He does promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. He promises that His plans for us are for our good. He promises us that He loves us with an everlasting love. He promises us that He will be with us always.
Always. Even when it is dark all around us. Even when the enemy comes in to deter us from our mission. Even when the road is filled with landmines and there seems no sure way.
He is that sure way. He is the way, the truth and the life. He has given us all that we need to move forward in this life. He has kitted us out and prepared us. Now we just need to get these boots walking.
If you want to hear that song by TobyMac, here is a link
https://youtu.be/MX1G71WK-FA