Neil Mc Iver, reflecting on his recent health-inspired walk to get into better shape, draws a parallel with the spiritual walk with God as depicted metaphorically in Psalm 119:101-105. As we commence on this journey, it is helpful to have a lamp or searchlight, which we symbolically connect to God's word and precepts. Our relationship with God has often been compared metaphorically as a walk. When the children of Israel encountered an obstacle or impasse, God instructed Moses or Joshua to have them walk forward through the barrier (the Red Sea or the Jordan River). When God promised our forefather Abraham land, he had to walk in order to possess it. We are admonished to walk through out troubles, doubts, fears, and setbacks, trusting God to bring us through our fiery trials. Sometimes our spiritual walk is compared to a marathon footrace in which the prize goes to the one who endures.  Both Enoch and Noah walked with God, finding grace in God's eyes. Peter learned that in new and novel situations, it requires supreme faith. It takes faith and obedience to produce new actions. We have to risk disappointment and frustration as we venture out into new and uncharted challenges, striving to follow the path God has set for us. We want to see Jesus working in us to do new things, growing beyond what we have up until now, accomplishing new spiritual vistas well beyond our current comfort zones, using the spiritual gifts God has given us. Let us all take a walk of faith this year.

Abram * Bid me to come to you * Colossians 1:10 * Comfort zones * Cookie cutter Christian * Daniel 3:23-25 * Discerning right from wrong * Enoch * Ephesians 5:8 * Exodus 14:15 * Faith * False way * Flashlight * I Corinthians 7:17 * Frustration with God * Galatians 5:16 * Genesis 5:21-24; 6:8-9 13:14-18 * Go forward * Hebrews 12:1 * Humility * Isaiah 40:31 * Job 23:11 * Joshua 3:12-13 * Lamp of God * Lamp unto my feet * Light unto my path * Matthew 14: 24;15:22-23 * Psalms 23:4 ; 119:101-105;138:7 * Red Sea * Refrain my feet  from evil way * Relationship with God * Repentance * Romans 6:4;8:1 * Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego * Walk in newness of life * Walk in spirit * Walking on water * Walk to get in better shape * Walking through the valley of the shadow of death * Walk worthy in the Lord * Word of God * Wings of eagles * Word of God a Lamp unto my feet