JUST SIX STEPS
«So it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep» (2 Samuel 6:13).
David’s first official act as king of all Israel was to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. However, his first attempt ended with a catastrophe: Uzzah’s death. David then decided to leave the ark in the house of Obed-Edom, a Levite. During the three months the ark was there, David had time to reflect on what had happened, and investigate how the ark should be transported. In his second attempt, he obeyed God’s instructions, having the Levites carry the ark on their shoulders. Then the Bible says, «So it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep» (2 Samuel 6:13). As soon as the procession began, David stopped to give thanks. He did not wait for them to arrive in Jerusalem or to be halfway there. As soon as the Levites took six steps, he stopped to honor God. Some biblical commentators believe David offered a sacrifice every six steps, all the way to Jerusalem. Others believe that «steps» represent distances. That is, David offered sacrifices as they reached certain points along the way. While there is no consensus on this point, it is clear that David showed his gratitude along the way.
How can we stop to thank God along the way? What are the six steps in your daily routine after which you might stop to remember God’s goodness? My friend Anne put reminders on her cell phone to stop to pray throughout the day. When the alarm sounds, she pauses for a few seconds to pray and thank God. Another friend uses stress and anxiety as a reminder. When she feels she is stressing and her heart starts beating faster, she pauses to breathe deeply: she inhales gratitude and exhales anxiety.
In her book Choosing Gratitude, Nancy Leigh DeMoss reflected, «A grateful man or woman will be like a breath of fresh air in a world contaminated with bitterness and discontent. And a person whose gratitude is the result and answer to divine grace will demonstrate the message of the gospel in an attractive and convincing way.» As soon as you take six steps today, remember to be thankful!
Dear Lord, please forgive me for forgetting Your kindness and not thanking You as I should. I want to pause to thank You throughout this day.
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.