Follow in His Footprints

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” ~Isaiah 1:18-19

The other day our family was outside playing in the falling snow during the big blizzard. We decided to head to the backyard to build a snowman and see if we could sled down our little slope. I started walking around the house through the heavy wet snow and my daughters were following close behind me. The snow was several inches deep and you had to high step and use much strength to get through. My littlest, Elysabeth, was trying so hard to get through the snow that was almost to her waste. I told her, just follow in my footsteps, but I realized it was still too high for her to walk through–she was getting worn out. She cried out wanting me to carry her. So, I picked her up and began to slowly maneuver through the thick and heavy snow to the backyard, which at this point seemed so far away.

As I marched and pushed through the snow, I saw the deep tracks that I was leaving behind and Holy Spirit began to speak to me about the relation to this season of consecration. During the winter, as snow covers the ground, it is so much easier to track and follow where tracks lead because they become obvious prints and markings in the snow. You can also see farther distances because there isn’t overgrowth covering the landscape to see where you need to go.

Just as during this season of consecration, the Father is leading and marking ways to freedom and all we have to do is follow His lead and be willing to go were He goes. His leading and promptings seem to be ever apparent as He exposes the places within our hearts that He wants to purify–make white as snow. The areas that were once hidden and covered by busyness or the hustle and bustle of life are brought to the light and surface in the stillness of His presence.

As I have gone through moments with the Father exposing my heart during this season of consecration, there have been tears, sorrow, pain, and forgiveness; all leading to more freedom. The Father has been taking me to painfully obvious places that I had not seen before until now. Allowing my heart to be vulnerable, and willing and obedient to go to those places has been the key. These very matters of the heart have been there the whole time, I had just not seen them or was ready to see them until now.

As the Father gently lead me step by step, there were times I didn’t know if I would make it through to freedom because I didn’t know what to do with what I had discovered within my own heart. I hadn’t realized how deep the hurt and the pain, and even how high I had built walls to protect myself. It was in these moments that I wept and cried out… “Father, carry me because I cannot do it on my own, I see where you are headed, but I am stuck, I want to be free, but I don’t know how to get there!”

And just as I picked up my youngest daughter and carried her to our destination, it was the same tender response of the Father. He picked me up, tucked me close to His chest, and began to carry me to freedom. I was covered and carried in His grace, overcome by His love and patience, and secure and safe in the arms of my Father. If we are willing and obedient to following in His footsteps during this season of consecration, he will lead us to true freedom–He heals, He purifies, and desires to make us white as snow.  ~Bethany J. Conway