Lost and Found

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. he put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:1-3

The word "patiently" in the above passage could also be translated "intently". It is a word that implies action on our part and brings about action from the Heavenly Father. He inclines to us. He leans in, "What is my child in need of?" He hears our cry and it is He that takes us out of our pit of self-pity, discouragement, disappointment, grief, etc.

In Luke 15, Jesus spoke of leaving the ninety-nine to find the one. Consider this: are you willing to leave the ninety-nine of "the way things have always been done", "this is how everyone else thinks, acts, does life", "this is the most logical way to approach this"? Are you willing to risk leaving the sheepfold to pursue The One who calls you out of the pit of destruction and out of the miry clay? Are you willing to give up the comfort found in the open pastures of conformity to seek out the unique landscape of the high places?

In order to go after The Shepherd who makes our footsteps firm we must be willing to leave the ordinary behind. The way may be rocky and narrow that leads to life, but the Lord gives us hinds' feet; feet that are created for high, rocky, narrow places (Psalm 18:33). And as we stand upon the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus the Christ, He makes our footsteps firm. Standing there, with our eyes focused on Him, we sing a new song of thanksgiving and praise. There, from the high place, our song of praise echoes throughout the canyons of life. There, the lost are found as they see and fear and trust in the Lord.

It is time to leave "ordinary" behind and embrace the "extra" ordinary journey to the high places. Glory be to God!