Today’s Post Written By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
When I was a kid, I used to love to watch figure skating during the winter Olympics. All of the hopefuls made it look effortless as they would glide across the ice, elegantly performing twists, turns, jumps, and figure eights.
Once in a while it was cold enough for the lake to freeze, providing a perfect opportunity for me and my friends to don our skates and practice our own maneuvers on the ice. Unfortunately, the only skill we somewhat mastered was the infamous figure eight.
I wish the only direction existing for a Christian was onward to maturity, but unfortunately some of our footprints in the sand look a lot like figure eights. ~Beth Moore
As I look back over my life, the impressions of a few figure eight patterns remain on the surface of my spiritual journey. I try hard to move steadily forward, but sometimes I find myself circling back towards old patterns of behavior or attitudes that I thought were put to rest long ago. It is during these times that I suddenly realize I’m not as far along on this spiritual journey as I thought.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)
What about you? Do you notice any figure eight patterns developing in your walk with God?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)
Perhaps like me you could use a little reminder… Figure eight patterns belong on the ice – not our walk with God.
“…in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6)