Getting into God's Stride

[Carla]

The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things when he is not before the footlights.~Oswald Chambers

Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him. Genesis 5:23-24

GETTING INTO GOD'S STRIDE

The test of a man's religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on. The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things when he is not before the footlights (cf.John 1:36). It is a painful business to get into the stride of God, it means getting your second wind Spiritually. In learning to walk with God there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride; but when we have got into it, the only characteristic that manifests itself is the life of God. The individual man is lost sight of in his personal union with God, and the stride and the power of God alone are manifested.

It is difficult to get into stride with God, because when we start walking with Him we find He has outstripped us before we have taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined into His ways. It was said of Jesus--"He shall not fail nor be discouraged," because HE never worked from His own individual standpoint but always from the standpoint of His Father, and we have to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned by atmosphere, not by intellectual reasoning. God's Spirit alters the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and things begin to be possible which never were possible before. Getting into the stride of God means nothing less than union with HIMSELF. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it. Don't give in because the pain is bad just now, get on with it, and before long you will find you have a new vision and a new purpose.
~Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest,
daily devotional. Oct. 12th

[Carla]

I came by this today under 'Day by Day Grace' in the blue letter bible. It was today's devotional. Coincidence! I think not! :)

October 23rd Enoch's Pleasing Walk with God, by Faith
By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death, "and was not found because God had translated him"; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:5-6)
It is the will of God that we learn to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord: "that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him" (Colossians 1:10). Again, such godly living can only be developed by faith. Much helpful insight into such a life is provided in Enoch's pleasing walk with God, by faith.

Enoch was one of our earliest forefathers. "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah" (Genesis 5:21). After the birth of Methuselah (who became, at 969 years, the oldest man ever on earth), Enoch began a three hundred year long journey of close fellowship with God. "After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years" (Genesis 5:22). After three centuries of spiritual intimacy, Enoch was taken into heaven without experiencing death. "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). Enoch's intimacy with God and his unique homegoing were related to a life of reliance upon the Lord. "By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death…for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Of course, what was so pleasing to God about Enoch's walk was his trust in the Lord. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him."

Enoch is a wonderful reminder of what life is all about—walking with God by faith throughout our days on earth, then walking right on into the presence of God in heaven someday. Many will eventually do this, like Enoch, without facing death. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Others may face death, but the key ingredient of fellowship on earth right on into heaven is the same. "I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:23-24).

Dear God of heaven and earth, I desire to please You by a life of faith here on earth. Help me to walk closely with You day by day throughout my pilgrimage here below. I eagerly anticipate the day that I will forever be with You in the fullness of Your glorious presence in heaven above, Amen.

[Carl Martin]

Carla,
That was a beautiful prayer and I too have to get IN STEP WITH GOD leading the way not following and we know the way will be hard with many difficulties along the way, but it will be worth it all.
I thank GOD for you, using you to open doors for us to get in step.
Sincerely,
Carl
IN HIS SERVICE

[Carla]

Thank Carl....Sorry it took so long for me to resopnd to your message....Getting into God's Stride is always worth it....I thank God for you as well...and for all His Faithful Servants...I pray we will each look to Him, and work His way not our own. There are many difficulties...We are not yet home! Let us press on....

Phl 3:12 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.

Phl 3:13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, [fn] but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

Phl 3:14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. [fn]

Phl 3:15 I hope all of you who are mature Christians will agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.

Phl 3:16 But we must be sure to obey the truth we have learned already.

Thank you for being here, Love in Christ, Carla