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When our kids were itty-bitty my husband Brad and I used to hold little hands a lot.
Sometimes it was to protect them from danger, like if we were crossing a street.
Sometimes it was to calm fears or to help them to feel secure.
Sometimes it was because we were on a mission to get through or to a place quickly.
Other times it was for the simple pleasure of strolling, skipping, and smiling together.
Now that they’re young adults, my kids aren’t so keen on holding hands with Mom and Dad anymore. Sigh. There’s still the occasional watching-a-movie-on-the-couch-at-home handhold when they are in town, but it’s a rarity. And I miss it.
I love locking fingers with my people. There’s beauty and intimacy to it. A tangible connection that binds our skin and braids our souls.
I love walking with them, hearing their hearts, talking through tight spots, giving advice, laughing, and enjoying their company.
Similarly, our heavenly Father finds pleasure when you and I walk with Him; when we take His hand and share our time, trials, treasures, and thoughts. The prophet Micah spoke to this. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
This is a simple, yet profound summary of God’s desire for us. A revealing of His longing for you and me to live in constant communion with Him. To lace our fingers with His in good, bad, scary, and sad times. Whether the sun is high in the sky or thunder rumbles low in our hearts.
Let’s break that verse down a bit.
ACT JUSTLY
In order to act justly I have to behave in a way that God considers just – not the ways that the world considers just. My righteousness (salvation) was made complete through the sacrifice of Jesus, but my willingness to walk in His righteousness is a choice I have to make each day. I get to choose whether I will do things my way or yield to the Holy Spirit within me and move as He leads. When I pray and invite the Lord into my day, it’s like reaching for His hand and asking God to lead me in His ways.
LOVE MERCY
Mercy is God’s kindness to NOT punish our sins as we deserve. It’s His restraint from condemning His children. If it weren’t for the mercy of God all hope would be crushed! Instead, hope is vibrant in grace because of Jesus. We can live responsively to His mercy (love mercy) by being grateful women … women who thank God each morning for a clean slate. We love mercy when we forgive others as we have been forgiven. When we do not condemn others as we might think they deserve. Forgiveness and mercy go hand in hand.
WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD
I love how the Bible describes the relationship between God and Enoch.
“Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). What in the world? I don’t know what set Enoch’s relationship with God apart so much that God just had to snatch him from earth, but my glory – I want some of that! Don’t you?
And look what was written about Enoch’s arc-building great-grandson, Noah. “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:9).
They walked faithfully with God.
My prayer today is that God would consider me a woman who walks faithfully with Him.
I don’t want to be the girl who only reaches for His hand when the road is bumpy, when my checkbook is empty, or when my feet are stumbly. And I don’t want to be like the teenager who’s embarrassed by her dad and only gives him attention in private or on occasion. I want to live with the faith of a child who acts justly, loves mercy, and daily takes the hand of her Father to face each moment, mountain, and memory right by His side.
Dear Lord, Please teach me to walk faithfully with You. Show me what it looks like to act justly. Convict me when I don’t. Help me to love mercy and to give it as freely as I take it. I want to hold Your hand. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
What obstacles are in the way of your daily walk with God?
Read Colossians 3:1-17 to see some practical ways you can live out Micah 6:8.
Let’s pray together today. Meet me in the comments section to share your heart and pray for one another.
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Comments 19
Thank you for the daily reminder of how I should live in this world where at times it’s so difficult to love as Christ does. I am praying for this nation and the world because there’s so much going on right now. I know the word says that it would happen, but it’s so hard to see it come to pass. I just pray that we would walk faithfully with God each and every day to be more like Him in our interaction with others. I pray that I would act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God! Amen
Inspired me , just what I needed
Amen 🙏 I have a prayer request.. Please pray for my father Joseph Carter who was told yesterday he has cancer he’s 89 years old I’m grateful for him living such amazing life and I pray that good lord will see his
through it. My mom also 88 has dementia in the early stages of this disease so please keep them both in your prayers. Thanks and Amen 🙏
I always cherish your words, but today’s “Walking with God” touched my heart in a special way. Last Sunday, my fourteen, almost-fifteen year old granddaughter took my hand as we sat in the service. It was so sweet and tender, especially from this girl who has been to hell and back with her emotional upheavals for the past three years. A bit later, as she was walking with me to our car, she again took my hand. Not for safety, just her love touching mine.
I love the idea that God walks with us daily and constantly, hand-in-hand. It’s a good place to be, and I was glad to be reminded!
Author
Oh Lynn, what a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing this. We all need reminded of God’s goodness… on the daily!
Gwen
I absolutely loved this! Holding hands with my boys is my favorite too and definitely waning now that they’re 16 and almost 10. The thought of holding hands with God as I go through my day really resonated. Thanks!
THANK YOU! I really needed this today!!! I am trying to stay strong and walk a Godly path, but my finances are such a MESS!!!! I was hoping to retire 2 years ago, but because of my finances, I have to work at least another 2-4 more years to try and get out of debt. I am grateful though that I do have a job to go to and a LOVING husband to physically and morally help me. I would greatly appreciate prayers to help me stay on track!!!
Sister in Christ!,
Lori
I love reading her devotions! Thank you for always putting that confidence back into my life! Please pray with me that my nephew changes his life around and starts living a good /clean life. Please pray with me that I can get out of debt, get a second job and pay off all credit cards. Please pray for my blind daughter to meet a good man that she can share her life with. Please pray for my grandson to live a life full Godly moments, and his mom to teach him all about God and stay full of faith herself. My husband to come back to cjurch.
Thank you, Gwen, for taking me back to Colossians 3. There are so many verses highlighted in my Bible in that chapter yet I forget to go there as often for some reason. Verse 12 particularly resonated with me this morning: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
God bless you!
I am so grateful for this beautiful message. I recently lost my mom. I was 2 weeks short of 70. She was 97. We lived together. Yes she was a great age! Yes I am an older woman. Yet I wasn’t quite ready to lose my very seemingly healthy mother. I love this message because I remember holding her hand as a child. She taught me to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly before my God. I pray that my children will remember holding my hand but more so, being taught to hold hands with our God. Thank you so much for this!
I’m also 72, and my Mom lives with us, she’s 90 and has dementia, She often holds my hand as we walk together…she’s also a godly woman and has led me many times in my life. I’m so sorry for your loss and wonder if we are ever ready to let go of our Moms, Sometimes as I walk by her in the house she reaches out for my hand, just to hold it…reminds me of the devotion today…
Hello, I was wondering if I could add my sister to your prayer chain. She has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer. She is a beautiful lady and such a great caring sister. She has very strong belief in Our Father above and said one night she had woken for a brief moment and he said “I am here for you”, then she fell right back to sleep. I feel there is never too many prayers.
Thank You
I have a daughter who is in addiction. I feel like I walk a tightrope with how I deal with her. Theirs setting boundaries, which she definately needs and then their’s showing her mercy. Also I am weary in dealing with her as this has been going on for so long. I am 66 and she is 41. I “let go and let God” everyday. Sometimes many times a day. I have began to have a certain sence of peace when I am acting as God wants me to with her and more easily be aware when there is a deliberate attack from the enemy on me. Thank you for your devotionals. I have been reading you on Girlfriends from God for many years.
My daughter is an addict as well, she has 4 years clean this April 4th. It can happen to your daughter also! KEEP PRAYING FOR HER AND I WILL TOO! I feel when we pray for them God protects them and gets their attention some way! I have lived those horrible nights, just praying for her because I had no idea where she was or who she was with or if she was dead or alive! It was torture, then I started saying my rosary every day and I noticed things were changing. I am truly sorry you are going through this, it is not easy, When I found Naranon Meetings it really helped. Let Go Let God, One Day at a Time.
Today’s devotional brought back memories of my mother, she came to live with me when her memory became too forgetful to continue to live by herself. One day when we were grocery shopping, she reached down and took hold of my hand, when I looked at her, she was smiling from ear to ear, I’ll never forget the twinkle in her eyes as she gave my hand an affectionate squeeze. She’s been gone for over 12 years now, and while reading this, I could close my eyes and clearly picture that day in my mind, even feeling the little squeeze. So Thank you for the memory…
Author
What a beautiful memory and story! Thanks for sharing this, Dianna! It blessed me big!
GWEN
We are trying to build a Casita for out daughter who is a single mom. This project has been a nightmare for 4 months. We found out yesterday that the concrete sub made a lot of mistakes that need to be corrected before we pour the foundation which will cost more money and time. We are so frustrated and stressed because we have prayed blessing over this house and wondering now if we should have done it.
Thank you for this excellent message. It’s the inspiration I need today.
I pray that my son would make the best decision regarding the purchase of his house. I fear he is taking on too much and will be overwhelmed by it all. Just his monthly mortgage, homeowners insurance and taxes would be $4000. Please pray for my son Michael.