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Do you remember that scene in “Despicable Me” where Gru was trying to steal the shrink ray from the villain, Vector? I can recount the episode clearly because every time we get in to my van to travel anywhere my kids want to watch, “Gru”.

If you haven’t seen it, the premise is Dr. Gru is trying to get a shrink ray from a crook named Vector, but can’t break in to the villain’s house. He has no hope of ever getting in, when 3 girls show up to sell him Girl Scout Cookies. It’s at this moment Gru realizes he can use the girls to break in to Vector’s house and steal the shrink ray. When the plan all comes together in his mind he famously says, “Light bulb…”

I’m sure you’ve had similar light bulb moments. Perhaps it wasn’t while contemplating how to steal something, but there are those moments in life where all the stars align and everything sort of clicks together for you.

A couple months ago this happened for my son while learning to ride his bike. We had taken the training wheels off, and he kept falling, he wasn’t getting the hang of pedaling, balancing, and looking where he was going (nevertheless stopping) and he was ready to give up. He kept telling me, “Put the training wheels back on.”

I refused, and one day, it all just clicked for him. There was a light bulb moment. He was able to just go. In fact, we’ve even gone to a BMX track a few times for him to ride now.

Well, as I was preparing for a new sermon series we’re starting this week at New Anthem, a light bulb went off for me while reading Genesis 17:1. It says, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am the God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless…’”

Here’s my lightbulb. I realized; God said, “Walk before me.” He didn’t say run. He didn’t say jog. He said, “Walk before me and be blameless.”

Maybe it’s because Abram was incredibly old and God knew his feeble bones would break if he tried to run, but I like to think God said “walk” for a different reason. I’m lead to believe God said “walk” because He knew years later Christians all over the world would be trying to run ahead of their purpose instead of walking, taking things one step at a time.

I need to be reminded of this. I like things to move quickly, or at least on my timetable. I like to see immediate results. But it doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes you need to walk. Sometimes you need to be calculated and deliberate. Sometimes you need to be slow and persistent.

Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”

Are you walking or running? What’s your next step???I’m praying there’s a light bulb this week for you…