Day 6 of the Gratitude Challenge 2022, and today’s word is “trace.” This word can conjure up so many thoughts for so many people. To me, my artistic mind comes to the surface!
If you haven’t looked at the original gratitude post yet, be sure to stop by The Uncommon Normal, where it’s posted. You can also follow the hashtag #gratituderipples on Instagram to see what people are posting! Follow a few posters to see more encouragement.
What Does It Mean?
The dictionary defines “trace” in a few different ways. One definition is to “discover by investigation.” Another is “a small quantity.” But as I said earlier, I like the one that conjures up artistic images. That definition is “to copy, map, or design by drawing over the original lines.”
I remember tracing pictures from my coloring books as a child, don’t you? If I was lucky, I could talk Mom into buying me some of that special tracing paper. But if I didn’t have that, plain old notebook paper would do if I laid them both against the window – the original image and my notebook paper. The sun would shine through, and I could easily see to trace the image.
Traces of the Divine
These days I don’t trace coloring book images anymore. But I try every single day of my life to trace Jesus, so to speak. Trying to let my “lines” match up with His by reading the Word, fasting, and prayer time, to name a few.
The only way to find out HOW to follow his “lines” (we know them as commandments) is to read what He wants, which is clear from the Word.
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he is is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
John 14:21
Plenty of Scriptures confirm that we are closer to Him by keeping His commandments. Our relationship with Him is stronger, and we’ll hear from Him more clearly.
Follow in His Footsteps
Along the same lines as “tracing” is following in His footsteps. I wrote a blog post about four years ago called Walking in Daddy’s Footsteps which talks more about that idea if you’d like to take a look.
It’s basically the same thing. Trying SO hard to keep up when those steps and lines just don’t seem possible for us.
I’m thankful we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! His grace is still the same. His mercy is still the same. And if you come to Him with a repentant heart, He stands ready to draw you in!
Like the idea of “tracing” images upon a superimposed material (transparent/tracing paper). You can apply this to the way God created man – made in God’s image. The more “transparent” the flesh is, the more perfect God’s image shines through.
Not to leave out the woman; she was made from Adam’s rib (blood & bone) and not from dust. And God chose the vessel made from life to propagate life on earth. But that is a discussion for another day! 🙂
Enjoy reading these! Blessings
Wow! What a truth to consider, David, thank you for sharing that! I look forward to that discussion! 🙂 Thank you!