33 Verses for the Traveler—When Faith Leaves Footsteps
I trust these meditation and scripture readings will speak to you and help start your day on the right foot. Always be grateful for strength for the day knowing that God is working behind the scenes in a thousand different ways for your good and His glory. Remember to refresh the spirit of those around you, whether going to the grocery store or traveling far and wide, that others will know that we are Christians by our love for one another. Let your light shine. ~Bob Neff, Jr.
Every morning we awake, we have a new chance to walk in love. To be Jesus to someone. Maybe it’s our lifelong companion, our child, our neighbor, or a store clerk. We have the same chances when we travel. Maybe, then, it’s a travel companion or a restaurant server or the person we invite into line in front of us. No matter who it is, every morning we have a Great Commission: Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…(Mark 16:19).
That’s what we do as travelers: we go out into the world. We wonder at His creation and His people. We walk in the footsteps of Jesus when we visit the Holy Lands. We commune with our brothers and sisters in Christ on every BNT tour. We also have a chance to witness to fellow travelers and locals wherever we visit. We get to walk in love.
Isn’t every bit of God found in nature? Even in man’s creation of art and architecture, we find Him. So, we wander and immerse ourselves in some place different than home to remind us of who He is, what He’s done for us, and what He’s calling us to do. Travel creates the space to deepen our faith and expand our journey here on earth. Or, at least, that is a choice (or chance!) every time we go out into the world.
Everything God has created is both literal and figurative—He wastes nothing! Our lives come to intersections, just like a crossroad in the desert or the convergence of many city streets. We choose our literal path and He directs our steps. If you’ve ever crossed a street in Rome, you know this is an act of faith that the cars will stop! Of course, this is true of our spiritual life, too: In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. (Prov. 16:9).
When we step out of our comfort zones to visit holy sights, natural wonders, and commune with others (whether they are believers or searchers), each reflects how He speaks to and directs us. It is, therefore, essential that we embrace our travels—to try to see the world and others through His eyes. When we do this, surely our faith will grow.
Taking a tour is not just a tour—it’s a “walkabout” in faith!
~Karen Leslie, BNT Travel Blog
Meditative Scriptures for the Traveler:
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Jer. 6:16
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
Embrace Your Season of Life
To Everything There Is a Season
1To everything there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven:
2a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to break down and a time to build,
4a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6a time to search and a time to count as lost,
a time to keep and a time to discard,
7a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
Walk in Love
Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children…
Ephesians 5:1
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us…
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tender-hearted and humble.
1 Peter 3:8
Cast Aside Your Worries
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34
14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:14
They Will Know Us by Our Love
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John 13:35
And what is Godly love?
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and it not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Walk in Love. How Shall We Walk?
and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Ephesians. 5:2
“Well, they would know us by our patience. They would know that we are Christians by our contentment, modesty, and humility. They would recognize us, for we would not be rude. We would seek the best for others, be difficult to make angry, and refuse to keep count of how many times we’ve been hurt. They would know us because evil makes us sad, and truth makes us happy. They would know us because we protect the defenseless and we do not live in suspicion of others. They would know us by our hope. They would know us by our perseverance. That is what love looks like. Those should be the marks of Christ’s disciples.”1
Every hill, every song, every perfect thing in nature, every soul standing before us is a reminder of God as Creator—a reminder that He is with us.
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Isaiah 40:26
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psalm 121:1
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break out in singing, O mountains, you forests and all your trees.
Isaish 44:23
Every day —yes, even every BNT tour—is a to chance to walk in love with—and in front of—witnesses. We consider it a blessing to walk this way.
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
Isaiah 64:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:8
Be Bold.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:9
Put on a Cheerful Attitude. It is true, we need reminded to rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
James 5:13
Live Fully in the Moment
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
Ecc. 7:14
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10
What We Do in His Name Endures Forever.
12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to rejoice and do good while they live, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God works that men should revere Him.
Ecc. 3:12-14
Footnotes
1Holloway, Debbie. Will They Know Us by Our Love? Copyright©JupiterImages Corporation. DOA: 06/25/19 https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/will-they-know-us-by-our-love-crosswalk-the-devotional-august-10-2012.html.