WALK WITH THEM NOT AT THEM

     I heard these words spoken to me in the middle of the night, the voice as clear as yours or mine. As gentle and comforting as anyone's voice could be. I heard the instruction of the Lord for my life and I believe for other's also. The Lord teaches us by His Spirit and reveals Himself to us in many ways. This night these words were very needed for a situation I was in. I know if anyone else had spoken these words I would not have heard them for the tenderness and love in the voice made it easy to say,

"Okay Lord, I will do it Your way."

     From the time my life was rededicated to the Lord until this moment I was surrounded by very strong Christians. They were my mentors, my teachers and my friends. I was able to lean on them and draw from their experiences. At the time of this Word from the Lord the scenario in my life had changed. I was now surrounded by new believers and was struggling with them not being where I thought they should be. I forgot how others had walked with me and was trying desperately to get these people grown-up fast and it wasn't working. If anything I was isolating them, until this Word came into my heart in the middle of the night. It was as if the Lord was saying,

"Pat, try it My way."

And it was so easy to respond with a heart that said,

"You're right Lord that would be better"

and a heart that repented for not giving the same grace I had been given. I told the Lord He would really have to help me, as He knew I could very easily become aggressive and this would be all new to me. I had the assurance He would walk me through it for I know He never gives us anything without giving us the grace to walk it out.

     Jesus walked with His disciples every day. They were not your everyday selection of those you would think He would pick to follow as they had many imperfections. Yet he continually walked with them and talked with them at their level of understanding. As they grew in Him so did their revelation of Him but they had to come to know Him and trust Him and even after all of that Peter still denied Him. The Lord is patient with all and He desires us to be also

     We try to change them and make them into us instead of guiding them gently to Him and letting His Spirit make them who He created them to be. For some of you this may not be a problem but for those like me who have the tendency to be aggressive even with your faith this is the Word of the Lord to you.

Walk with them, not at them.

     Watch how quickly they will come if they don't fear what you will say or if you don't appear to be holier than thou to them.