GPS Dependence: Our Journey of Spiritual Insights
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
A friend was coming to see me and, depending on her GPS, missed her turn, not once but twice. When she arrived at my home 15 minutes later, although she was only a mile away we shared a good laugh. The very next day the same thing happened to me! Has our GPS caused us to pay less attention to where we are really headed?
This made me think of God’s chosen people and the two important journeys which should have been relatively short. God had given his people a purpose to reclaim the promised land and rebuild the temple and city of Jerusalem. The Exodus from Egypt and the return from exile in Babylon became ordeals filled with hardships and resulted in decades of wandering.
Despite the leadership of Moses, Aaron, Zerubbabel and Nehemiah God's people gave in to complaining, disobedience, fear, and discouragement. What should have been a short journey for God’s people resulted in many missed opportunities to arrive at their destinations by a more direct route. A lifestyle of not paying attention to where we are headed can result in losing our way and that may hold us back from God’s good plans for our lives.
Just as our navigational GPS systems need updating to ensure we have the latest road names and most direct routes, our spiritual internal system needs attention. In order to keep us from getting lost in life, it is important to be alert and listen to where God is leading us. We do this by staying tuned in to His direction and leadership over our lives.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
Don’t overlook the last portion of this verse; it takes intentionality on our part. Seeking God with all our heart is similar to updating a GPS. We can seek Him in prayer and spend time reading His Bible. When we do this, He will make our paths straight.
Dear Lord,
We need your direction over our lives in order to not lose our way. We trust Your divine plans for us and know seeking Your ways provides better outcomes for us. Guide us and lead in Your ways. Bless us, take care of us, make Your face shine upon us, look upon us with favor and give us the gift of peace,
O Lord. Amen (Numbers 6:24-26)
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