Day by Day, Walk this Way

The other day I was a little frustrated because the "organized" me wanted to be able to--"almost"--put it in my planner that I would walk at 7:30 am. I say "almost" because I don't think I would REALLY write in my planner that I will walk exactly at a precise time every day. I am four years retired, though, and still live by my planner. So it's not completely unthinkable that I could start writing it in as a daily thing at a specific time.

I'm not writing it in my planner, ok? It's a habit now, anyway. 

Seems really silly now, but earlier this week, we had rain in the forecast yet again. This is a weird summer; the rain is usually gone by July, not that I'm complaining about the rain, because I'm not! I LOVE rain. (Read my blog post "The Puddles are Dancing" to learn why). However, it was messing with the daily walk I have become accustomed to. Rain in the morning meant I couldn't walk until evening, because the window is before 9am or after 7pm. All times in between those hours are unbearably hot and humid.

So I was praying about it on my way to the campus where the walking paths are. "I can't find one specific time to always have my walk," I complained. "Every day when I get up I have to check the weather to see if I will be walking as soon as I can get dressed and out the door or am I waiting until after 7pm."

"Or if it's good in the morning, but rainy that night, that day I will walk in the morning, but the next day, it might be just before sunset. It's so frustrating! I'm committed to walking daily, but it's a day-to-day process!"

Then in my spirit I heard "Kind of like trusting the Lord for your daily needs?"

Yes. It's exactly like that. I am daily depending on God's grace to be sufficient for that day. It ALWAYS IS, but it doesn't always come in the way I thought or at the exact time I was expecting. That's how it is. He promised to provide my needs, but He didn't give me a typed itinerary of how and what He would provide.

I know it's not for everyone, but I have found a new enjoyment in a daily walk. Somehow, I daily have the desire to go and the stamina to do it. I have actually walked inside Walmart during the spring when it rained just about every day. I feel like joy it brings me and the ability to do this is a gift from God. Otherwise, I would have already quit. I have tried many times before in my 70 years. It never became a habit, I never liked it, and after a few weeks I had quit because it was too hard.

A couple of days ago I reposted something I had posted years ago: 

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1. 

It's still true today. I may wake up, check the weather app, and see that I can walk in the morning; or I may find that I will have to wait until evening. Possibly, I might even be walking at Walmart. It doesn't matter. He will work it out in His way. 

And I will still bless the name of the Lord. ALWAYS. 

Be blessed, my friends! 

The view above in the forest

The blessed shade!

It's all downhill from here!