As a young man, I worked in local government for the department which had responsibility for clearing the city centre pavements of snow in the wintertime. When it snowed heavily, I had to turn up very early in the morning to help organise this work. I remember leaving my home one day after it had snowed all through the night. It was the most beautiful cloudless morning. The stars shone brightly in the dark sky, especially the North Star. An untouched carpet of deep snow covered the avenue where we lived. There was not a soul about. Most of all, I remember the exhilaration of being the first person to walk through the fresh snow to work. I didn’t feel the cold. I just felt alive!

This simple experience has often reminded of me of the wonder of each day that God gives to us. We live in what can be a very dark world, but each day can be lived looking up to the One who is the Bright and Morning Star, with hope in our hearts. We can walk by faith day by day through all the experiences of life with the assurance that our times are in His hand. There is also a path which is uniquely ours. In this path, we learn the ways of God. Behind us, we leave footsteps. Some are joyful, and others are not. In front, we have yet to make footsteps. Each morning my wife, June, and I pray that the Lord would go before us guiding our steps in the ordinary and extraordinary circumstances of life.

You might be thinking footsteps in the snow quickly vanish, and you would be right in part. We are tiny, and the steps we take in life appear insignificant. But our God is a record keeper; He stores our tears in a bottle; counts the hairs on our heads; writes our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life; looks for the one lost sheep; and He knows the steps we take. Our steps may disappear from our memories but not from God’s because He walks in them with us.

It was while the two disciples walked home to Emmaus (Luke 24) that Jesus drew near and walked with them. That historical walk with the resurrected Christ illustrates the spiritual experience of walking with God. It is a daily experience, and I hope this small book will help you with the steps you take with the Lord.