Good morning! Here’s another devotion from our guest writer Dora Lozano. Enjoy!

“Don’t let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true.”

– Psalm 139:24 (CEV)

One day I felt compelled to go on a hike alone. This is the conversation that God had with me that morning:

As I started out on the hike I let God know that I was there to hear His voice and I was open to what He wanted to tell me. The Lord began with, “having a relationship with Christ is like going on a hike. At the start of the hike you have a lot of energy and your moving fast, the trail might be winding here and there but you can see the path for the most part. But then you will hit your first hill and the hike starts to become a little more challenging, but you keep moving forward. You get past the hill and the trail is still winding but you can see the path.”

As I started up a particularly steep rocky hill…He continued, “Sometimes the path will be rocky and you will move a little slower and you will clearly see the rocks on the path and you will try to avoid them”. When He said that, I stumbled. God continued, “and you will stumble, but you won’t fall because I am with you”.

As I continued on the path, I saw a park bench. He said, “Sometimes you will need to
stop and take a break for renewal on your walk with Christ and when I have filled you again, you will continue on the path”.

A few moments later, the path became cold and shady. I heard Him say, ”Sometimes you won’t be able to see what is ahead and the path will seem dark” and as I continued around the bend of the trail, I could see the sun shining at the end of the path. He said, “But it will not be too long before you will see the light on the path”.

There is a particularly steep part of this trail that literally takes your breath away. He continued…”Sometimes the relationship will be very hard, and you will feel like you can’t breath and you will want to give up, but I won’t let you…sometimes I will be next to you…sometimes I will be behind you pushing you up the hill and sometimes I will carry you through”.

At this moment I felt compelled to stop and look back and He said, “Sometimes you will have to stop and look back at how far you have come and you will see how I have been with you and you will marvel at all of the very difficult circumstances you have overcome…remember that I was with you”.

When I finally made it to the top of the hill, I could see the beautiful hills and mountains beyond where I was with a variety of paths spiralling in different directions. He said, “There will always be another mountain to climb and paths to take”.

At the top of this hill there is a water tower that marks the end of the trail. There are two paths that lead there. One of the paths is clearly less challenging than the other. I asked God, “Which path do you wish for me to take?” I felt led to go down the more challenging path. He said, “In your life you will often come to a crossroad and one path will seem easier than the other, but I will often ask you to take the more difficult route”.

There were several times on this hike that I broke down in tears and surprisingly I was alone on this normally busy hiking trail. I have an intimate relationship with Christ and having him lovingly guide me with moments like these are so valuable to me. My prayer for you is that you will begin to nurture a craving for Jesus. Where you won’t be satisfied until you hear from Him.

Prayer:
Lord, please remind us of the times that you have been with us. Teach us the value of having quiet time to reflect on what you have done in our lives. Provide us Lord with guidance to seek you always to lead us in the way that is everlasting. Lord, help us to not believe the lies of the devil. Equip us Father God to not delay in getting to know you more intimately. We love you Lord, continue to be with us and show us your mercy. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Dora’s Biography

Dora Lozano is a faithful follower of Christ living out her faith daily. Dora is the mother of two amazing children. The eldest is in their junior year at university. The youngest is heading in to their sophomore year of high school. Dora has spent twenty-nine years working in the California Community College system. Currently, Dora is an academic counselor for foster youth and homeless youth at a community college in Southern California. Dora’s personal mission statement is to “Love God, Do Good and Serve Others”. Dora lives out her mission through her work and in her faith community where she serves on the usher team. Dora enjoys spending time with her children and her sweet puppy dog. As a family they enjoy being loud and silly, listening to Korean pop music, taking road trips, making popcorn and watching movies. Dora is honored to be a guest contributor on the devotional for Mary E. White Ministries.

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Devotion Written By: Dora Lozano

Photo Credit: Dora Lozano

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