And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 1:6 (NIV)
Until recently, I knew little of prayer labyrinths. Unlike mazes, they don’t offer choices along the trail. The only decision you make is to enter, trusting the path will lead you closer to God. The footpath represents the complexities of faith as we face life’s trials. It should be walked slowly, praying with every step.
Walkers might leave with a sense of God’s will, or a word or phrase clear in their minds. At first, I questioned the spirituality of this practice, but worshipping Christ is a good thing. Because I have mild attention deficit disorder, it’s hard for me to focus on one thing at a time. Doing something to keep my body busy as I reached out to Jesus would help with concentration, so when I discovered a labyrinth at a nearby garden, the idea appealed to me.
Stepping into the labyrinth, I had no idea the intensity of the experience that lay ahead. Navigating the twists and turns, I grew impatient but felt I had no choice but to continue forward, praying. The trail—and Jesus—waited. When I reached the center, triumph filled my soul. I’d obediently followed the path set before me and felt eager to continue back out, to complete the entire walk.
Now, when life offers challenges and I can’t find my way, I look back on that labyrinth. The more obedient I am to Jesus, the closer my walk with Him will be. I know where my life started and where it will end. I can trust Jesus to direct me through the zigzags and curves along the way.
Faith Step: Invite a friend to join you as you walk an unfamiliar path or trail. Talk about ways Jesus has guided you through the unexpected curves life has handed you.
