National Women's Missionary Auxiliary

My sister was born when I was 11. She came along a little later in life for mom and dad. With two older siblings, and experienced parents, she was destined for an extraordinary childhood. She was a toy for my brother and myself. If a baby could remember events from infancy, she could tell you of the time she was lying in my lap, and somehow slipped off onto the floor and bumped her head.

Luckily it wasn’t far to the floor. There was no lasting damage, other than the ability later in life to attend college for her doctorate. I’d like to take all the credit for the effect it had on her IQ, but our mother might disagree. Other than the one tumble, my brother and I generally tried to take good care of her.

 

It was a family affair making sure she reached her childhood milestones triumphantly. We all took turns teaching her the necessary skills to become an independent person. One skill encouraged by all members of the family was walking. I remember propping my sister up in front of our refrigerator. Backing a few feet away from her, and holding out my hands, I would try to coax her to step toward me. Her faith in me caused her to give it a try. First one step, and then two, would bring a loud applause and a jubilant celebration. You would’ve thought she had won an Olympic medal.

 

Days passed by and she became more and more confident. She began taking more and more steps. In no time at all she was toddling all around the house. The hesitancy of a step taken in front of the refrigerator was quickly replaced by confident running feet all over the house. What started as first one step, and then two, became a constant confident walking child.

 

Her childhood days have long passed. She now has an eleven year old of her own. When he was young she had the joy of propping him up, backing a few feet away, holding out her hands, and coaxing him to step toward her. First one step, and then two, would bring a loud applause and a jubilant celebration. Again, we have an olympic medalist!
The task of learning to walk is probably done a little different in each family. Some reason the refrigerator worked great for my sister, as well as my children. It seemed to always be a great unoccupied flat surface, from which a child could easily be propped. Those days are long gone, but the memories are forever etched in my heart. Trusting family and friends to take care of them, a child seems to abandon fear as they try a new task and skills. Stepping into the unknown can rattle the best of us, but watching the faith of a child makes me wish I could have such abandonment toward God. A friend of mine told me this acronym for ‘faith’.

 

Forsaking
All
I
Take
Him

 

I’d heard an acronym similar to this most of my life, except the word ‘Trust’ was used in place of ‘Take’. Personally, I’ve come to prefer using the word ‘Take’. A child steps out in faith to the one holding their arms out to catch them. They totally trust the one encouraging them, and they choose to ‘take’ the first step, and then two. It’s the action of ‘taking’ that shows faith.

 

In this acronym, the word ‘Him’ represents God. Taking that first step in obedience our heart can feel as though it is in cement. Our hesitancy to take that first step can be caused by fear, selfishness, denial, lack of self worth, pride, uncertainty, busyness and many other things.

 

The very first step in ‘Taking Him’ occurs at salvation (If you declare with you mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NIV) After that, each step ‘Taking Him’ builds upon the first.

 

Days will pass by as we become more and more confident. He is always with us and the source of our confidence. We take more and more steps, and in no time at all we find ourselves toddling all around doing what God calls us to do. Feet running all over doing Kingdom work replaces the hesitant first steps. What started as first one step, and then two, becomes a constant growing child of God.

 

Each step chosen to ‘Take Him’ is not necessarily easier than the previous ones. Personally, fear is what sometimes hinders me from taking the first step. It takes pushing fear aside, remembering Who I am stepping to, wiggling my toes, and taking the first step. To ‘Take Him’ includes salvation, and things like spending time with Him in prayer, a better attitude, checking on someone who’s sick, repentance, starting a new ministry, attending church, going on a mission trip, studying the Bible, supporting missionaries financially, beginning a prayer group or whatever God is calling you to do. It’s a continual choosing to ‘Take Him’.

 

Prop yourself up against a sturdy object. Allow God to chisel the cement from your heart. Look at the hands reaching out asking you to step in faith, and wiggle your toes. Take Him. It’s first one step, and then two. With certainty it is known, the prize is much more valuable than any Olympic medal.

 

Scripture:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

 

Prayer: Father, I take you.

 

Response: One Step.