Who do you ask for directions? Some of us would drive for days before we would ask anyone. Some would ask anyone we saw – no matter who they were. When we are lost, we might become more willing to ask. There are always those who are “never lost” even when they have no idea where they are. Surely the next turn will reveal the right path, we tell ourselves.
We often seek direction in all the wrong places, though. If someone is asking me for directions, for instance, they are likely to get a look of confusion. I am not the one to ask how to get somewhere. I will always do my best to get help, though. I will not lead you the wrong way. I have no trouble admitting I have no idea. And there are those that just have the gift of knowing which direction is best and guiding in just the right way. I am thankful for those people.
Today, though, I want to think about our direction in life. We listen to others about what we should do, where we should be, and how we should do things. We measure success by others expectations. We allow other people to tell us how we are doing and what we should do differently. We don’t always consider the value of their input. We just accept it.
What if we measure ourselves by different standards? What if we, instead, used a reliable guide to determine our success? What if we listened to an authority that has been proven right over and over again? What if I told you we have access to this authority at any time and any place? We have the Bible and the example of Jesus. We have this amazing resource we can draw direction, but we instead listen to people around us that have no clue. We have an example of how to live peaceably but we choose to do it our own way. We have the guide on how to love, but we allow others to tell us the right way to love. Why? We do it because those voices are loudest. We do this because those around us are always in our path trying to direct us. What if we put the Bible in our path more often? What if we sought the direction of God rather than the direction of other people? We might find we are on the better path. We might find we aren’t lost as much. We might even find the way of love. It is certainly worth the effort. Guide us, God. Guide us.
Focus Scripture:
John 16:13-14
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 