EVERY STEP MATTERS

by Tammy Phillips
April 11, 2022

“The prudent considers well his steps.” (Pro 14:14-15 NKJV)
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!”’ (Hag 1:7 NKJV)

Recently, I scrolled social media and accidentally found the St. Jude’s Second Annual 100-Mile Challenge for April. Without hesitation or a second thought, I committed to it. It was only running, walking, or stepping an average on 3.33 miles a day for each day in April. What I soon came to realize, it would take 3.33 miles EVERY DAY to reach 100 miles and if missed one day, the number increased. I had not been exercising regularly. I thought this would be great way to motivate myself to get moving and benefit a great cause. The first and second days of stepping were a little slow…very slow.

My fundraiser goal was met very quickly, so I increased it. The second goal was also reached easily by the gracious donations of friends and family. I concluded that I better get my feet to stepping. People had committed to me, and I better get committed super-fast to walking out this challenge.

Stepping, walking, running, racing are all themes used in the Bible to teach us spiritual lessons. Holy Spirit had a lesson prepared and waiting: “Every step matters.”

If we do not take the first step, we definitely cannot take the second. If we do not take the second step, we cannot take the third and so on and so on. If we do not step, we cannot make progress. If we do not step, we cannot attain or goals. If we do not step, we cannot live. Even someone who cannot physically walk, utilizes a wheelchair to go and uses their hands “to step.” Everything in life is about taking steps.

“Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established.” (Pro 4:26 NKJV)

My translation of Proverbs 4:26: “Think about and prepare for every step you take.” Look at it like this. Getting out of bed, brushing your teeth, cooking supper, baking a cake, planning a trip, a wedding, or an event, all require us to take certain steps. One miss step and we miss our intended goal. Take for example, driving a car, one must:

Unlock the car.
Open the door.
Step into the car.
Start the car.
Put the car in gear.
Push the gas.
Drive

If we do not follow these steps, we cannot drive. Every step matters. If we do not take the necessary steps, we cannot get where we are going. We cannot achieve our goal. Life is a series of steps. If we do not step, we stop.

My goal is to take at least 225, 000 steps in the month of April. That is one quarter of a million steps!!! Do you really think every single step doesn’t matter to me? Slow down and really meditate, every step we take is one step closer to our goal. In the beginning of the challenge, I was mindlessly doing daily chores and running errands. These things didn’t seem important, but they keep our home “going.” I was not counting each and every step as important. When became conscious of every step, even to the restroom, some days, I could add a as much as a mile or two to my daily total. Every step matters.

I enCOURAGE YOU to consider well your steps.

Your steps are ordered by the Lord. Every step matters.

“The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23 NKJV)

The Lord sees your every step, whether you are in or out of step with Him. Every step matters.

“For His eyes [are] on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.” (Job 34:21 NKJV)

When we make a miss step into the miry clay and get stuck, He is there, too.He reestablishes our steps. Every step matters.

“He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.” (Psalm 40:2 NKJV)

Our steps are of and directed by the Lord.Every step matters.

“A man’s steps [are] of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?” (Pro 20:24 NKJV)

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” (Pro 16:9 NKJV)

We are called to follow in His steps.Every step matters.

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…” (1Peter 2:21 NKJV)

Wherever we step, do it for the Lord. Every step matters.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17 NKJV)

7. The King of all kings commands His angels to watch, and guard are every step. Every step matter to Him and every step matters to us.

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11 NKJV)

How are you going? Where are you stepping? What are you walking into or out of? Are you progressing toward your goals or sliding away from them? Every step matters. I encourage you to step toward Jesus, walk by faith into the life you were meant to live. Every step matters.