Megan Childs

Walking God's Trails

This school year, we are focusing on walking with God. Let me share a story of some people who learned to walk with God in a very real and personal way.

Bruce Olson is a missionary to the Motilones, an indigenous tribe of Columbia, South America. In his autobiography, Bruchko, he tells of the Motilones' amazing conversion from warlike savages to peace-loving Christians through the power of the Gospel. He explains the concept that allowed him to reach the tribe: "Every Motilone had his own trail. It was his personal point of identity. You walk on someone's trail if you want to find them. God would have a trail, too. If you want to find God, you walk on his trail" (Bruchko, 136).

Later in the book, Olson relates how one Motilone described their conversion: "'We tried to follow God, but we lost Him while we were trying to follow. We tried to follow our own paths, and they never took us to the place they were supposed to. They never took us beyond the horizon, where we would find [Him].

"Then, [one of us] found [God's] path in Jesus Christ, and he walked it, and showed us how to walk it. We were glad'" (192-3).

This story illustrates our own need to walk with God. As we walk through Walther's halls, as we move through sports practices and after-school activities, we need to think about whether our words and actions reflect God in us. Think about Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." As you go through the day today, take time to think about whether you are following your own path, or walking in God's.

We pray:

Dear Lord, as we go about this day, help us to trust only in You and not in our own strength. Like the Motilones, help us to seek You and walk in Your paths. Thank You for Your grace, which allows us to be close to You and walk with You.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Olson, Bruce. Bruchko . Lake Mary : Charisma House, 1995.