Walking with God

Our Rock

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“I love you, Lord, my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield[b] and the horn[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:1-2 NIV

Life is hard…there seems to be difficulties, struggles, pain and suffering, hardships of every kind everywhere we look.  Yet there is hope!  How?  Where?  With the Lord who is our Rock and our refuge.  The world rejects Jesus as Savior and His Way seems upside-down according to the world’s values.

But God, the Creator of all things, and following Jesus Way is the path to hope.  God will have the final say about the world and He will make all things new again.  Trust in the Lord and His will and His way…He is our Rock.

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Surrender

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“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

His way is better than our ways.  He is the Creator of all things and all people.  He knows what you are going through and He cares for you.  Turn towards God and trust in Him.

I Give You My Heart – Hillsong Worship & Delirious?

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Listen…May God’s Word Be Your Guide

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“Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Psalm 32:8 NIV

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Attitude Of Gratitude

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“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 NIV

God is with you, He is for you.  He will never leave you.  No matter what happens, no matter what your circumstances…remember what God can do. Give thanks to God and strive to focus on choosing an attitude of gratitude.

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“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

The Truth

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“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 NIV

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

You Say by Lauren Daigle

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Come Near…Trust God

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“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

James 4:7-10 NIV

Spend time reading God’s Word, take time to get to know Him.  Believe in God…put your trust in Him.  Turn away from self-centered living and begin to strive for God-centered living.  He loves you…He is with you…He is for you.  Come near to the Lord.

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]“

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

(This photo was taken in September of 2020 at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

Wisdom And Understanding

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.“

Proverbs 9:10 NIV

“How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight rather than silver!“

Proverbs 16:16 NIV

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
    To him belongs eternal praise.“

Psalm 111:10 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin)

Make A Commitment

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.”[a]

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

How do we get better at staying the course?  The worldly way we set goals is almost always a path to failure.  Some of the most common mistakes is over-committing to too many things or setting unrealistic goals and achievements.  Not to mention our lack of patience for change in this fast paced, immediately gratification world.

The biggest mistake we make is not asking God to guide us or not listening and looking for His will for our lives.  We are easily distracted and believe we have to maintain everything on our own.  The most important change we can make in our lives is turning towards God first and a make a commitment to follow Him in every area of our lives.

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:3 NIV

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

What Path Are You On?

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“Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.“

Proverbs 4:26-27 NIV

The original navigtion tool in this world is God’s Word.  Which way should I go? What should I do next?  How should I handle this situation?  How do I respond to that person?  And so many more questions can be answered by spending time in God’s Word.

Pick it up and read it, listen to Him and put into action the things He teaches us.  God’s Word is the ultimate guide for your path.  Take time to reflect of where you have been and where you are going in life…what path are you on?

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“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.”

Psalm 119:105 NIV

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota)

Believe And Overcome

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“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Romans 10:9-10 NIV

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

1 John 5:1-4 NIV

Believe…God is for you…God is with you.  He is the Creator of all and He knows you personally.  He knows what you are facing and He will be right by your side or, if necessary, He will carry you through to the otherside.  God loves you…trust Him to lead and guide you.

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“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

1 John 5:5 NIV

(This photo was taken in October of 2018 near Winterset, Iowa)