21,000 DAYS

It's a significant number.

Let me tell you what it means.

I was reading a post the other day about the importance of walking with the Lord – and how it really doesn't matter whether it's only been one day or 10,000…

I got to thinking about that.

I've been a believer since I was about 3.  I just turned 60.  So, I calculated the days.  It's been in the vicinity of 21,000 days that I've walked with the Lord.

I was kinda shocked.

To try to put the number in perspective, I translated it into miles.  And that would be like walking 57 miles a day for a whole year!  (Which, incidentally, would greatly enhance my plan to lose a pound or two or twenty…just sayin').

21,000.

A rather long journey.

And an adventurous one.

It's been fraught with highs and lows – mountains and valleys and deserts – storm and wilderness and drought.  Moments of faith aflame, and moments of parched doubt.  Soaring victory and treacherous failure.

All serving to weave a quilt full of the patchwork of my life.

All walked with Jesus.

OK, sure, sometimes I've lagged behind or run ahead – or even wandered off for periods of time.

But never, ever have I walked alone.

God's Word promises that.

But what about me?

I know that He is always with me…but am I still with Him?

It's no small question.

Plenty of people start out strong in their loyalty to our Savior.  But sometimes, somewhere along the line, life invades that Garden of Eden perfect picture of unity.

Something changes inside…

And the walk with Him is abandoned.

Some only leave for a season.  Some never return.  Some were never on the path in the first place, not really.

But what about me?

Some detours along the way, but I've been walking 21,000 days.

Now, please know that I am NOT bragging here.  This is no "accomplishment" on my part.  This is nothing to "brag" about.  If anything, let it be a testimony to the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father.

What did Paul say?

"If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD."

So, it is all Him.

And yet, there is a choice on my part, too.  For God is the ultimate gentleman.  He never forces people to follow Him, nor to worship Him.  He gives His awful and wonderful gift of free will, and then He lets us choose.

When I was but a child of three, I chose Him.

And I can honestly say I have never regretted nor abandoned my choice.

Yes, I am still with Him.

And this is a particularly sweet victory in the middle of one of the hardest years in my life.


So, what does it mean to stay with Him?

It means a lot of things.  I'm listing some of what it means to me…

Communication – talking to Him, crying to Him, ranting to Him.

Reading His Word – letting His words sink into my heart and permeate my thoughts.

Fellowship – joining with others, not neglecting the Body of Christ.

Worship – never forgetting His holiness and glory.

Praise – telling Him how wonder-full I think He is (even when I'm mad at Him – maybe especially when I'm mad at Him…)

Awe – never forgetting Who's really in charge.

Denying myself – yup, all that personal cross-carrying stuff.

Discipleship – following, always following, after Him.

Hope – Holding On (with) Perseverance (and) Endurance

And yes, JOY – Jesus, Only You.


I guess as I reflect on my lifelong journey with the Lord, this is what it means for me to walk 21,000 days.

It means choosing Him, even when I don't feel like it, even when I don't see my way clear, even when I can only sit in the middle of the road and cry.

It means choosing Him one day at a time.

And what of that choice?

Does it matter?

Oh my, yes.

It matters for me, this is without doubt.  But I also think it has huge ramifications in the spiritual realm.

What does it mean when we choose to stay with Him?

Does it affect the enemy of our souls?

Oh, indeed, I think it does.

My paraphrase of a popular thought:

"Be the type of person that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says, 'Oh no!  They're up!'"

Lately, it's been more like me saying this – "Oh no.  I'm up."  As in, oh dear, it's another day.

However, even in that state of mind, I'm still choosing to follow the Lord.

And THAT, my friends, is what I think scares the enemy.


Job, sitting in a pile of rags, festering with boils, taunted by friends, and light years away from God’s comfort…

Even then – Job was SCARY!

This statement: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…" (Job13:15, NIV)


Esther, willing to take a life-or-death stand against a treacherous enemy…

Even then – Esther was SCARY!

This statement: "And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king.  If I must die, I must die." (Esther 4:16, NLT)


Paul, who was put in prison, whipped times without number, faced death again and again, was stoned, shipwrecked three times, set adrift at sea, and faced danger from friends and enemies alike….

Even then – Paul was SCARY!

This statement: "Just as it is written, 'FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.'  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:36-37, NASB)


And, even though the thought scares me somewhat, I also want to be SCARY to the devil.

I want my faith to be intimidating to him.

My choice to keep walking on the Narrow Way might just be winning battles that I don't even know about.

Job never knew about the cosmic chess match happening in the heavens.

But when he chose to hang on to his faith in God – even though he was angry and confused and suffering – I have a feeling that the heavens thundered, "CHECKMATE!"

Not that God needed any help from Job – but something happens when beings with free will CHOOSE to stay loyal.

Have you ever pictured the next moment?

I have.  I can see God look at Lucifer with a smile on His face.  I can see a defeated angel skulking away, with his head hanging low, muttering in disgust and frustration:

"Another human defies me."

Yes, let's do that.


So, it's been around 21,000 days that I've walked with the Lord.  And though the walk has not been easy lately, I'm still here.  Still choosing to follow.  Still loyal to Him.

And I am making trouble in the ranks of those who defy the Living God, and who would love to defeat those He loves.

Don't count me out.

I am still walking…

Whoever says he abides in Him
ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

Following in His footsteps.

"Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God."(Psalm 20:7, NLT)

"In God we have boasted all day long, and we will give thanks to Your name forever.  Selah." (Psalm 44:8, NASB)

"This is what the LORD says:
'Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the LORD, have spoken!'" (Jeremiah 9:23-24, NLT)

"As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died." (Galatians 6:14, NLT)

"I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

"Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6, NLT)

How many days have you walked with Him?  Do you think it makes a difference when you choose to walk with Him even during tough times?

Linked today with:

SHARING HIS BEAUTY, UNFORCED RHYTHMS, PLAYDATES WITH GOD, INSPIRE ME MONDAY, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, UNITE, SOLI DEO GLORIA, TITUS 2 TUESDAYS, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS, WINSOME WEDNESDAY, WHOLEHEARED WEDNESDAY, TELL HIS STORY, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, FAITH BARISTA JAM, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, THRIVING THURSDAY, THRIVE AT HOME THURSDAY, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAY, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAYS, HEARTS FOR HOME, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, THE FRIDAY FIVE, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, COUNTING MY BLESSINGS, WEEKEND BREW, STILL SATURDAY, RECOMMENDATION SATURDAY, SUNDAY STILLNESS, GIVE ME GRACE


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