When I was a little girl, my Papa often took me to the railroad tracks to lay pennies on the rails. We would return a few days later to find our flattened pennies scattered by passing trains. I loved walking the rails and imagining how many cross ties must lie between where I stood and the length of track stretched for miles before me. I would hop from one cross tie to the next until I eventually found myself much farther down the track than I realized I had traveled.
Today, I visualize those trips to the tracks as I consider the words I speak over my life. Like the many railway ties I walked all those years ago, the words I speak are the foundation of the life I now live. I am the train. My words are the ties. My life is the rails I ride. I have discovered words of life build tracks to blessing, purpose and fulfillment while words of doubt and death build tracks to fear, destruction and lack. I have a choice to lay the tracks I want to live.
Once you get your words lined up with God’s Word, how can you keep your train moving down the track?
4 Ways to Keep Your Train Moving Forward:
- BAIL IT IN—Bail it in is a railway term meaning to feed the locomotive firebox. Fuel your heart with God’s Word. Just like filling the firebox once doesn’t keep the train fueled, neither does reading God’s word once a month keep your heart fired up with the strength and motivation you need to keep moving forward. As you daily feed yourself scripture, your spirit will get stronger and your faith will grow hotter.
- BEND THE IRON—Bend the iron is railway lingo meaning to change the position of the rail. When you realize your rails aren’t running straight, change the way you are speaking. The beauty of grace is God giving us the chance to make adjustments as we realize they are necessary. When you don’t like where you’re pointed, just change the way you’re talking about your situation and watch things straighten right up. What should you say? Speak what God’s Word says about your marriage, children, job and relationships.
- DROP A LITTLE RUN-FAST—To drop a little run-fasts means to oil the engine. I love this! When you feel like things in life are getting stuck, stale or stagnant it’s time to worship. When you set your eyes on the awesomeness of God your spirit will soar. Things that previously drug you down won’t feel so heavy when you worship. Taking 15 minutes with some good worship music can change your perspective and get your thoughts running much smoother.
- PULL THE PIN—To pull the pin means to resign or quit a job or to uncouple a railcar by pulling up the coupling pin. Sometimes we need to realize it’s time to pull the pin on things that just aren’t working anymore. A project, a job, a relationship that is no longer serving the big-picture purpose of God’s plan in your life may need to be cut loose. Pray before pulling that pin, but have faith God will take care of everything. Just ask, and He will give you courage and wisdom to end things well.
God meets us where we speak His Word. When we come into agreement with what He has spoken we align ourselves to receive His blessing, wisdom and favor. If you are facing challenges in any area of your life, put these principles to the test. Speak God’s Word and watch Him work!
“I watch over My Word to accomplish it.” –Jeremiah 1:12
© Lesley Sturm 2017
