October 22, 2026
Introduction In today’s post, our friend Gina Gholston reminds us that God’s plan for us and for nations unfolds progressively, and encourages us to follow Him one step at a time. Gina’s title is:
The Next Step
God is not in time as we are. He is outside of time and not restricted by the boundaries of earthly limitations. The plans He set in motion since before the foundation of the world unfold according to His schedule, not ours. And we can be assured that He knows the entire timeline of our lives. Isaiah tells us He declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).
God invites us to step into the unfolding of His plans through our faith and active obedience. While the journey doesn’t always unfold in the way and timing we imagined, we can trust that God is faithful, His purposes are intentional, and His timing is always right. It is a journey that requires complete trust in God’s ability and wisdom.
This post was sparked by a dream the Lord recently gave me. In the dream, I was led to minister to a family who had just taken a giant, costly step of obedience. Following what they knew was the Lord’s leading, they relocated, only to find the doors they expected to be open were completely shut! Broken, confused, and angry, they were on the verge of turning back, convinced they had failed and misheard God’s voice entirely.
At one point in the dream, the anointing of Holy Spirit came over me, leading me to prophesy to them: “The perceived assignment that brought you here was not your actual destination or identity for this time. It was merely a step God used to get you in position for a purpose you have not yet even considered. If you had not taken this step that brought you here, you would never have known there was more. If you choose to retreat now, you will never discover the full plan God has been leading you toward all along. Stop looking for what you were looking for. Turn your focus back onto the Lord and listen for your next step.…and there is a next step. You haven’t failed; you’re just not there yet. Refocus and keep going.
Since receiving that dream, Ephesians 2:10 has really been speaking to me. Paul said, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared BEFOREHAND that we should walk in them” (emphasis mine). This is a profound truth for us to embrace. God created us on purpose, with purpose, for His purposes. Through salvation, He set us on a path to discover and walk in the fullness of all He prepared in advance for us to do. Along the journey, there will be many steps He leads us to take. Though we may not understand every step, we must follow Him with confidence and full persuasion that He is sovereign and faithful. He knows the way He has prepared and is intently leading us in it.
Like the family in the dream, when the path we’re on doesn’t reveal the outcome we expected, our first instinct is often to abandon it. In these exact moments of vulnerability, the enemy tries to weaponize our emotions, using doubt, frustration, and confusion to trip us up. But we must resolve not to let our feelings dictate our thoughts or control our actions. The journey continues. There’s more to be discovered. We must remain spiritually attentive to hear God’s wisdom and instruction as He directs us. On our journey, clarity follows action, revealing itself only as we trust Him and keep moving forward.
Proverbs 16:9 tells us that while we may plan our way, the Lord directs our steps. Notice the plural there: steps! God doesn’t lead us across the finish line with just one step. This is a journey of becoming. It is a step-by-step process that brings us into the fulfillment of God’s purposes. He leads us as we walk with Him. He opens doors, and we walk through them. He creates opportunities, and we step into them. He gives us ideas, and we work with them. It is vitally important that we hear what God is saying, and it is equally important that we obey Him when He speaks.
I think of Moses and the Israelites standing on the edge of the Red Sea. They had followed the Lord’s leading, yet found themselves trapped. Their lives hung in the balance, and there seemed to be no way forward. Did we miss God? Should we go back? These questions didn’t just cross their minds; they gripped their emotions. They were judging by natural understanding and thought it would be better to retreat. But God saw what they couldn’t see. He had not abandoned them, and their steps had not been in vain. They were on a path that positioned them to fulfill God’s purposes. In that place of transition, they needed to stop leaning on their own understanding and remain focused on the Lord. The path forward wasn’t finished; it just required a next move. God told Moses to stretch out the rod in his hand. When he obeyed, the sea divided, revealing the continuation of a pathway God had seen all along.
Many of us have taken steps over the years that seem to have failed. Some have even questioned if their labor has been in vain. But God assures us He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). The same is true for our nation. Every assignment has been necessary. Every border we anointed, every dam and waterway we prayed over, every decree we’ve made declaring this nation is realigning with God’s original purpose, every shout we’ve released, every mile we’ve traveled, every tear we’ve shed, every sacrifice we’ve made—these were all steps on the journey, and each of those steps has led us to this place of entrance into the next great awakening that is now unfolding. Though the individual steps did not reveal everything we expected, we can confidently trust they are part of a much bigger picture. And we are now in a time when God is putting the parts together to form the whole of His intentions.
We are entering the door of access to the next phase of God’s plan. As we quiet our hearts to hear and obey Him, He will equip us with the precise wisdom, clarity, and boldness this moment requires. His will is unfolding, and His Kingdom is advancing. He is not late; He is right on schedule. He is leading us forward, and America is being saved!
Pray with me:
Father, thank You for this amazing journey You have us on. Thank You for Your faithful guidance as we traverse the path You have prepared for us. Even when we don’t understand some steps, we confidently trust that You are with us, directing us according to Your perfect will, plan, and timing. Thank You for inviting us to be part of what You are now fulfilling. Help us to center our focus and quiet our emotions, enabling us to hear Your voice and receive Your wisdom for today and for the road ahead. We surrender our agenda to You. Guide our steps and work through us to accomplish every purpose You have ordained for us and for this time.
We also pray for our nation. We thank You for answering our prayers to uncover evil. Billions of dollars in fraud, corruption in our elections, wicked politicians and deep state operatives, and much more – You are cleansing our nation. We ask for this to continue. And we appeal to You for help in the mid-term elections. Don’t allow evil politicians to win races. Keep communists, atheists, and those with unbiblical beliefs from gaining a foothold in Congress. Give favor to those who honor You and our Christian roots. We pray all of this in Yahweh’s name and authority. Amen.
Our decree:
Yahweh is ordering our steps. He faithfully leads us, and we will faithfully follow, trusting His will, His plan, and His perfect timing.
Portions of today’s post are from Gina’s new devotional, Words for the Way. You can find out more about Gina and where you can purchase this new book at GinaGholston.com.
Comments