Psalm 18:33 "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the
heights."
Habakkuk 3:19 "The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a
deer, he enables me to go on the heights."
Have you ever wondered what it means to have hinds feet? To be able to
stand on the heights to run and be sure-footed? I have.
The first time I thought of this verse was across from Mt. St. Helens.
There was a trail for 'experienced' hikers around this mountain. Well, I
thought - what can be so bad that I would really need any experience... I found
out. So, off I go on this trail. Just having a grand old time. On the other
side of this trail is Spirit Lake - I wanted to see the Lake. But to soon I
came to the part of the trail called 'Devil's Elbow'... Yes, I should've known
from the title. But hey, sometimes we have to go through a bit of a trial to
get to where we want to be.
The trail starts getting narrower and narrower until it's only the mountain
wall on one side, a one foot wide trail (no lie), and a 1,000 foot drop on the
other side at a very steep angle... with no guardrail.
Oh, I was fine - moving along confidently and having fun with the Lord and
me focusing on getting to Spirit Lake. Then, just like Peter looked down and
saw the water he was standing on and became consumed with doubt and fear and
fell into the drink - I looked down the 1,000 drop and saw the one foot wide
trail and began to feel the doubt and the fear consume me. I was a trooper... I
went a little farther, but the fear of falling did me in. My eyes were no
longer on the Lord or getting to the lake.... but saving myself and getting back
on the broad path where I could be sure footed.
Lately, I was reminded of this verse as our group of ladies was at Hocking
Hills. Our last hike of the day was Cantwell Falls. Sort of what I had my eye
on even before we got there - not because of the falls, but because it had a Rim
Trail that was a little challenging to get to. Now, I like a challenge and the
word 'trail' perks my ears up - I suppose sort of like a deer when it stops to
listen.
Nobody else wanted to go, but it so in my heart to try to run the trail.
Well, a friend and I was a little ahead of some of the others and I mentioned
that I REALLY wanted to go on that trail. She basically said 'go for it'. I
took my water and flashlight (being that it was almost dusk)....and being
prepared I had put on running shirt under my pj's ;) I gave her my backpack and
off I run up the 90 or so steps to get to the trail.
Then I proceeded UP the trail to get to the rim of the falls (2.5 mile
trail). As I was running, I felt the Lord beside me. I was feeling free and
the cleanness, freshness, quietness, peacefulness of the trail. There were
places where it came real close to the edge or the rim and also really huge
slippery rocks. As I was bouncing up and down through the trail to miss the
rocks and roots, the Lord said, 'You have hinds feet'. I not only knew what he
meant by those verses, but I felt what meant. I was on the heights - running
with the Lord.
Though most of you may not be runners, He has given us ALL hinds feet to
folllow Him on the heights - to overcome obstacles - to be victorious over the
battles in our lives - to not trip over every problem and trial that comes up.
Jesus gives us the strength to follow His lead as we put our feet in His foot
steps. Let's not follow our fleshly doubts and fears that cause us to stop or
turn back. Let's follow Jesus today.
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