I told my friend I’d pick him up for lunch in 30 minutes. I left just in time and headed toward his place. As I drove, I entered his address into my GPS. Regrettably, it was too late. If I had done it before leaving, I would have avoided the 40-minute construction delay. But there I sat—hangry, frustrated, and stuck.
I had failed to inquire of the GPS. The GPS knew about the construction, but I didn’t. I had no way of knowing unless I consulted the GPS—which knows far more than I do about Atlanta traffic. So there I sat—delayed, annoyed, and late. I wanted to complain, but my GPS app doesn’t have a “complaint” button. I already knew what it would say:
“If you had asked me first, I could have saved you all this trouble.”
How often have we set out toward a goal, only to find ourselves delayed, waylaid, or stuck in a ditch—all because we failed to inquire of the Lord? When we cry out, “Why did this take so long? Why so many detours? Why so many potholes?” the Lord patiently replies:
“You should have inquired of Me first.”
Failure to inquire of GPS maps can cost us a little time, but failing to seek God’s guidance can cost us far more. To avoid missing our destination and our destiny, we must:
Seek God First. Seeking anything else first never leads us directly to what we need.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Trust God Above Ourselves - We don’t always know what’s ahead, but God does. He will always lead us in the right direction—if we trust Him.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Let God Light the Way. Without God, His word, and the Holy Spirit guiding us, we are stumbling around in the dark. Just as we turn on the light when we enter a dark room or turn on our lights when driving in the dark, we need God to illuminate us with wisdom and understanding to guide us.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
Let God Correct Our Course. When we start to go the wrong way, God’s Word and His Spirit will redirect us—if we listen.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. 2 Tim 3:16
Let God Guide Us. If we abide, God will guide. Even when we don’t know the way, His presence will navigate us through rough roads, deserts, and turbulent waters.
And the Lord said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest [by bringing you and the people into the promised land].” Exodus 33:14
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Exodus 13:21
A GPS helps us find our way around town or even across the country, but God’s Positioning System is our ultimate guide for navigating life. It’s:
God’s Pathway to Salvation
God’s Perfect Strategy
God’s Plan for Success
As we are Guided by Prayer and Scripture, God Provides Strength for us to Go, Preach, and Serve. That’s a GPS worth following.
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