Verse 3 of Psalm 121 speaks to us of the second blessing that the LORD gives us. "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved". This verse speaks to us of Steady Steps (steadfastness) that the Lord gives a believer in his spiritual walk. All around us there is uncertainty. Many people find it difficult to take decisions when it comes to important matters in life. They hesitate thinking that they might make a mistake. Still others grope in darkness as it were not knowing whether they are doing the right thing or not. In such a world a Christian can be a witness of having the testimony of God's guidance. Regarding a believer Psalm 37:31 says, "The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide". What kind of steps would you like to take? Steady steps or sliding steps? If you want steady steps then learn to get direction from the Lord Who made the heavens and the earth. Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighted in his way". Learn to allow the Lord to order your steps. Pray the prayer of the Psalmist as found in Psalm 119:133; "Order my steps in thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me".

The Bible tells us that we should follow the steps of the Lord Jesus. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, THAT YE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS" (1Peter2: 21). "You should follow His steps" is the calling of the Christian. This is the meaning of being a Christian. Many times in the Gospels, we find the Lord Jesus calling people to follow Him.

1. Leave and Follow:
"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew: his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him" (Matt.4: 18-20).

This was a new beginning in the lives of Peter and Andrew. It is good for us to see that the Lord Jesus did not call them merely to believe in Him but He called them to FOLLOW Him. Even today, this is what the Lord Jesus wants us to do. When Peter and Andrew left their nets, they showed their willingness to follow the Lord Jesus whole-heartedly. The important principle we should see here is our whole-heartedness in our following the Lord Jesus. Have we left anything at all in this life in order to follow the Lord Jesus? We can see in the Bible how greatly the Lord Jesus could use these simple men because of their willingness to "leave and follow". It is possible that some of you are called by the Lord Jesus to leave everything and serve Him only. We read testimonies of great men of God who were challenged by the Lord Jesus to give up their jobs and serve Him. But remember that all of us are not called to do the same. Nevertheless, we are called to leave certain thing's of our old life and follow Him. Our6inful habits, self-glory, and worldly ambitions cannot go with us when we follow our Master. Before I became a believer, my ambition in life was to become a karate expert. I used to spend hours practicing the art of karate. But when I surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus, very soon the Lord showed me that this was something that I should leave in order that I may follow Him. Lt was a difficult decision but the Lord gave me grace, The Lord may speak to you regarding things that you need to give up, so that you may have time and ability to follow Him. This is how we can have steady steps in our spiritual walk.

2. Listen and Follow:
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). As a follower of the Lord Jesus the most important things to learn to listen to His voice. The Lord Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice". His voice comes to us today through the written Word of God. God desires to speak to us; we must be willing to listen. We must have a regular time of reading the Bible. The Lord Jesus said, "...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt.4:4 ). The Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God comes to us when we read the Bible The Word of God is our spiritual food. We take food at least three times a day to feed our body but what about our spirit? Only the Word of God can nourish
our spirit. We must have daily reading of the Word of God both from the Old
Testament and the New Testament. We must appreciate all the books of the Bible equally. Some like to read only the book of Psalms and others only the Gospels. But remember, the whole Bible is inspired of God. If we want to follow the Lord Jesus, we must hear His voice through the reading of the Bible. According to your need 01 the day, God will speak to your heart through your: daily portion. Remember, it is not a voice that you hear through your ears but through your heart. There are thousands of promises in the Word of God. We must learn to receive, appreciate and believe them. If we listen to Him and follow Him, our steps will be steady. Always desire to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will guide us through the Word of God. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom.8: 14).

3, Lay down your life and Follow:
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take' up his cross, and follow me" (Matt.16: 24). There were thousands of people who followed the Lord Jesus because He performed miracles and gave them food when they were hungry. Many people were crowding around Him, but then He threw this challenge to them. In simple words this is what the Lord Jesus said; "If you want to be My disciple, you must be prepared to die. You must stop thinking what you can get from Me. You must take up your cross, that is, all your troubles, trials, burdens, and the reproach you receive because of My Name, and follow Me." Remember, that the Christian's calling is a call to suffer. Paul tells Timothy that he should "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ"(2Timothy 2:3). It is said
that a man who walked carrying a cross, was not expected to come back alive. The cross is an instrument of death. It may seem strange that the Lord Jesus said, "You must take up your cross and follow Me", because people today tend to relate the Lord Jesus with earthly blessings and prosperity. They think, if we believe on the Lord Jesus, we can receive all that we want. Even Christian preachers encourage believers to think so. They say, "If you pray in faith, you will receive anything you want". Some even say, "Write what you want in a piece of paper and send it to me; I will pray for you, and you will receive it." This is quite contrary to the challenge that was put forward by the Lord Jesus to His disciples. He wanted His disciples to deny themselves and follow Him. Let us not be selfish Christians. Our calling is to become selfless Christians.

Make sure that you have Steady, Steps in your Christian walk. The Lord Jesus gives us steady steps. This is the second blessing that the Lord gives us according to Psalm 121: 3.

STRIVE IN PRAYER - BAKHT SINGH

Scripture Reading: Esther 4.

Mordecai, Esther's uncle refused to bow down to Haman: that is why he determined to destroy not only Mordecai but the whole Jewish nation (Esther 3:5-6). Haman is a type of Satan who is angry with the believers and persecutes those who refuse to bow down to him. Haman was full of wickedness and wanted to kill all the Jews. If his scheme had been successful, all the Jews would have been killed in one day. To save His people, the Jews, God raised Esther for that period. She never knew why she was brought to: such a high position. When the enemy's scheme was known, her uncle said these words to her. "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4: 14).

Mordecai speaks of believers who refuse to bow down to Anti-Christ and the false prophet in the end days. In Revelation 13:15 we read that the enemy will raise up an image of the beast and persecute and kill those who refuse to bow down to it. The man child in Rev.12:5 speaks of those believers who refuse to worship the image. They are the overcomers who will rule with a rod of iron in the millennium (Rev.2 : 26,27). The woman in Rev. 12: 1 with a crown of twelve stars, wearing the sun and the moon speaks of the Church. Among many names given to the Lord Jesus Christ, one is the Sun of righteousness (Mal.4:2). The moon by itself has no light, but the light of the .sun falling on the moon reflects the light. The moon under the feet of the woman speaks of the prophets who receive the message of the Lord and give it to the Church. The twelve stars speak of the twelve apostles. The enemy is ready to devour the man child (Rev.12:4). Thus we see that those who want to overcome have to go through all kinds sufferings and persecution. But in the end, they will be rewarded and will rule with the Lord Jesus Christ. There is going to be a great persecution upon all the believers. These days are not far ahead. The enemy is using every possible: means to weaken the faith of believers, to persecute them Iand to destroy them.

Just as Esther did not know that the Jews were in great danger, we also do not know that many Christians are in danger. Because things are going on secretly we do not know the danger coming upon all the believers of the world. When Esther realized the danger, she prayed to God. Because of her intercession the Lord delivered all the Jews. On account of one person's intercession, God gave great deliverance. Even though we are few in number through our prayers the Lord will deliver many believers from persecution and all trials.