Welcome Friends,
I am glad you are here
Life is hard and it is even harder when we try to do life alone without the support
and encouragement of one another.
I am thankful that we have each other to learn and grow together in
our walk with the Lord
Most all of us know the good ole bible story of Moses leading the Israelites to the promised land.
This was a time of spiritual preparation. To grow in faith and obedience.
An 11-day journey that turned into a 40-year journey.
During this journey, each time the Israelites complained, grumbled and doubted,
God gave them a way out, an opportunity to shift their mindset
Complaint: “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die?” (Exodus 14:11-12)
Escape Plan: they could have trusted God’s deliverance. the parting of the Red Sea.
Complaint: “We had plenty of food in Egypt! Why did you bring us here to thirst and starve?
Escape Plan: They had seen God’s miracles, they could have trusted His.
God provided manna from heaven and God provided water from a rock
Adam and Eve when they ate of the forbitten fruit
God provided them with an opportunity to change their course of action
Complaint: “The serpent deceived me, so I ate.
Escape Plan: Instead of hiding in shame, they could have repented immediately.
Whenever satan dangles temptation in front of you, God always provides a door, a way to escape
the temptations of satan.
1 Corinthians 10:13—”God will always provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
God doesn’t cause bad things to happen. We often bring them upon ourselves.
He gives us free will, allowing us to step outside the boundaries of His protection and into the consequences of sin.
Even though He does allow the bad things, He will also provide a door for us, a way out,
an escape door.
When we find ourselves in a mess and we realize, this isn’t where I want to be.
We need to quickly find that escape door and get back under His protection.
The world will tell you it’s natural to vent, complain, and doubt—just like the Israelites did
The world will tell you- “Let it all out and vent, you have every right to be frustrated.”
But complaining kept the Israelites wandering for 40 years instead of stepping
into the blessings of the promise land that God had prepared for them.
The world will say it’s better to run and hide in shame, just like Adam and Eve.
“Cover it up, avoid the consequences, don’t admit your mistakes.”
But hiding only kept them farther from God when He was ready to restore them.
I can honestly say, that for most of my life, with my walk with the Lord,
I have not been looking for that escape door but instead, staying in the worldly ways
and face the consequences of my action.
As scripture would call me-I was an infant still needing milk instead of solid food.
meaning that I am still immature in my walk with the lord as I don’t know much about
scripture…His word
1 Corinthians 3:1-2″Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—
mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”
Now that I am growing and maturity in knowledge, I am ready for solid food and time to
get off that milk and grow up.
I am now trying to keep a better lookout for those escape doors, yes sometimes I forget to
find that door and end up miserable.
I remember once when I got a little snippety and left to go eat. While waiting inside for my food
a young man, waiting for his food also, started talking to me.
He spoke with such a gentle compassionate voice taking about his grandmother who
loved the Lord and she got called home 11 months earlier and how she taught him to
to love the Lord as well.
I got into my car and I knew exactly what God was doing. My little snippety attitude
was uncalled for and He was showing me, though that young man, how a follower
of the Lord should talk.
When you’re in the middle of an argument and your about to say something hurtful, hateful
or just arguing to be right and your wrong or someone says something you don’t like.
Stop and find the escape door-pause, take a deep breath and rethink what you’re going to say or
walk away if you need to, maybe continue the conversation when you have had time to cool down.
Proverbs 15:1-“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”
Let your anger take control, or you can take the way out God provided
You’re with someone who starts gossiping or complaining about someone else.
Stop and find the escape door– instead of joining in, maybe say-let’s say a prayer for them or change the conversation,
Ephesians 4:29—”Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.”
The choice is yours—will you take the way out God is offering?
You’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, anxiety or worry
You’re tempted to cope in unhealthy ways—overeating, overspending, isolating yourself,
or numbing your emotions.
Stop and find the escape door-when you feel overwhelmed, Jesus Himself is our escape door
Matthew 11:28-30-“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Giving into temptation that satan dangles in front of you is only building his kingdom.
We need to run, not walk, to the nearest escape door.
We need to remember who’s team we are on.
Today is Superbowl Sunday-imagine your favorite team’s quarterback has the ball and running
the wrong way. You’d be yelling at the screen, “Stop! You’re going the wrong way!”
That’s exactly what happens when we follow temptation instead of God. We forget whose team we’re on.
I don’t know about you, but I am done playing for satan’s team and helping build his kingdom.
I want solid food not milk. I want to grow up, not stay an infant.
I entered into a covenant with God a long time ago, and give up my life.
Staying in spiritual immaturity is not what God desires for us.
I choose to stand firm, to grow in knowledge and faith
so I can help build God’s kingdom
Heaven Father
I come before You with a humble heart.
Life without Your guidance is like an adult surviving on milk, starving for the solid food.
Help give us the desire to grow up, to help us stand firm and play on the right team.
When temptation comes, remind us that You are always faithful to provide a way out—an escape door leading back to Your presence.
Give us the strength to choose You over the empty promises of the enemy.
In Jesus’ name I pray
Amen
I invite you to join me on this journey
Let’s allow God to transform our hearts.
True change starts from within, and when He changes us, we can better impact the world around us
https://echosofmyfootsteps.com
Interactive Lesson #25-The Escape Door
