A God-Style GPS

A God-Style GPS

Last Christmas I bought my husband one of the latest technology fads for the car: a Global Positioning System (GPS). As a pastor in the Detroit area, he frequently goes to unfamiliar places. A stack of papers under the console, courtesy of Mapquest, evidenced where his day took him. The GPS, I hoped, would change all of that.

This thing is great. Wherever you are in North America, it knows. Tell it where you want to go and it magically pulls up directions. And if reading directions while you drive isn’t your thing, there is a friendly female voice to tell you where to go.

Sometimes our life is like the twists and turns of the large metropolitan area where I live. Some days it seems like everywhere you look there are endless possibilities of where to turn. Which one is right? Other days it seems like you hit nothing but a bunch of dead end roads. Wouldn’t it be nice to have sort of a “real life GPS” to help you find your way through day to day living?

It’s easy to forget in the busyness of our daily lives that God did in fact provide us an incredible set of “virtual directions” in His Word.

As a new Christian in college several years ago, I mistakenly viewed the Bible as a book of old stories that didn’t easily apply to my life. But, as I grew in my faith, I began to see amazing parallels between my own life and much of what was written in the Bible. These people needed direction in many of the same areas that I did.

While you might not find terms like “self image” and “depression” mentioned by name in the Bible, you can see many of the characters struggled with these issues just like we do today. While their exact circumstance may be a little different than ours, the principles His Word teaches through these stories meet us right where we are in life today.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

I have yet to encounter something in life that I can’t find some sort of biblical principle to apply. Throughout my walk with Jesus, I see each circumstance He places me in always has an answer in His Word. My job is simply to open my eyes and find them.

Last week I watched my normally healthy husband be hospitalized for reasons that weren’t entirely clear, even to the doctors. I wondered what God had planned for us during this event. It was no coincidence, however, that my daily Bible reading plan found me in Psalms that week. I was scared and found comfort in the words of David as he cried out to God during frightening times in his life. He knew, just like I did, that God is control of even the most difficult circumstances. His plan will prevail. Those words were like balm to my fatigued soul.

The Word of God is addictive. I used to view Bible reading as just another thing on my “To Do” list that was already a mile long. Something changed in me, however, last year after I determined I would spend even more time reading it each day. Now, I eagerly anticipate what He will show me each day through it. Some days I even “cheat” and read ahead to the next day’s reading. I simply can’t wait to see what is coming up!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always pretty. Some days what He shows me about myself is down right ugly. I am tempted to slam it shut and do something, anything, that doesn’t shine the spotlight on my soul like that.

But, the thought of not seeing that part of myself and staying in the same old sinful habits reminds me to thank Him that He loves me enough to show me such things.

The Bible should not be something we blow the dust off of each Sunday morning. We are missing out on so much that He wants to give us if we allow that to happen.

When you are seeking God daily through His Word, you can’t help but be changed. It moves you into a deeper love affair with Jesus and changes you at the very core of who you are. All of that for just opening the Book and reading a few chapters a day.

God’s Word is the best road map for there is, certainly better than any modern technology device. It doesn’t just help us navigate through the busy streets that are our neighborhoods; it navigates us through the deepest trenches that are our lives.

There is no blaring speaker that offers suggestions of where to turn, instead the words come straight from the heart of God as He gently whispers them to our hearts.

All we have to do is read…and listen.

***************

Points to Ponder:

1. What situations are you facing that you struggle to find answers?


2. How frequently do you read your Bible and ask God to show you the Truth as it applies specifically to your life?


3. Do you really “love” the Word of God? If not, what can you do to improve your zeal for it? (Hint: It involves reading it!!)

***************

Please visit Robyn on her personal blog at Overflowing Grace.