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FOUR LESSONS LEARNED ON YOUR JOURNEY (1)
‘In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.’
PROVERBS 16:9
Remember needing a road atlas when you took a trip? Now you just programme your destination into the car’s GPS and it tells you where and when to turn, how far to the next petrol station, and when you’ll arrive. No guessing, confusion and wrong decisions; just choose the shortest or fastest route and it will get you there. As a follower of Christ you have a divine GPS, which is the Holy Spirit. He chooses the route and the timing, and guarantees that you’ll get to your destination. By listening to Him you learn four valuable lessons. Let’s look at them:
First, you learn to depend on God rather than yourself. Assuming you know all the twists and turns of life makes you act without consulting God. Samson believed he’d ‘figured how the system worked’. When Delilah sold him out and the Philistines bound him with ropes, he thought he’d handle things the way he always did: ‘…“I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realise the Lord had left him.’ (Judges 16:20 NLT). Living victoriously means living in total dependence on God, not yourself. Jesus said, ‘…Without Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5 NKJV).
Second, you change your perspective. You may not always look where you’re going, but you will always end up going where you’re looking! Your perspective determines your choices and direction in life. After paying dearly for following his lower impulses, David changed his perspective and prayed, ‘My eyes are fixed on you…Lord…’ (Psalm 141:8 NIV). You should pray that too.
written by Bob Gass
‘In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.’
PROVERBS 16:9
Remember needing a road atlas when you took a trip? Now you just programme your destination into the car’s GPS and it tells you where and when to turn, how far to the next petrol station, and when you’ll arrive. No guessing, confusion and wrong decisions; just choose the shortest or fastest route and it will get you there. As a follower of Christ you have a divine GPS, which is the Holy Spirit. He chooses the route and the timing, and guarantees that you’ll get to your destination. By listening to Him you learn four valuable lessons. Let’s look at them:
First, you learn to depend on God rather than yourself. Assuming you know all the twists and turns of life makes you act without consulting God. Samson believed he’d ‘figured how the system worked’. When Delilah sold him out and the Philistines bound him with ropes, he thought he’d handle things the way he always did: ‘…“I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realise the Lord had left him.’ (Judges 16:20 NLT). Living victoriously means living in total dependence on God, not yourself. Jesus said, ‘…Without Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5 NKJV).
Second, you change your perspective. You may not always look where you’re going, but you will always end up going where you’re looking! Your perspective determines your choices and direction in life. After paying dearly for following his lower impulses, David changed his perspective and prayed, ‘My eyes are fixed on you…Lord…’ (Psalm 141:8 NIV). You should pray that too.
written by Bob Gass
