I remember driving into the city of Baltimore to make a hospital visit when we lived in Maryland. I did not know the area very well, and this was a time before GPS’s when you actually had to be able to read a map. I was thrilled that I had driven directly to the hospital without getting lost. After my visit, I proudly (bad word) drove from the hospital to get back on the beltway toward home. I was still basking in my own glorious thoughts of how sharp I was to be able to find my way to that hospital when I looked up and saw signs for Washington DC. I was headed in the wrong direction!
Has something like that ever happened to you? That happened to me in a physical sense of direction, but I have had the same thing happen to me in my spiritual walk with God. “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:59). It is good for each of us to daily “think on” our ways and “turn our feet unto His testimonies.” One of the reasons that I am compelled to read my Bible every day is because I do not trust my carnal sense of spiritual direction any more than I trust my physical sense of direction.
You may think less of me at this point, and if you do I am sorry that I have painted a picture of my own perfection for you. The truth is that every one of us struggles daily to walk contrary to our flesh and in obedience to the Word of God. I must read my Bible every day if I have any hope of staying on the right path in life! It is not an option for me. I committed to checking out where I stand with God on a daily basis, and multiple times throughout the day. The reason is simple … left to myself, I will choose the wrong direction far too many times. I need the help of my Heavenly Father. You see, His view of my life is not encumbered with any sin at all! What a great advantage we have as believers!
One of the things that I love about God is that He created me, but He allows me to make my own choices. He has given me a free will. One of the things I hate about myself is that I use that free will to turn away from Him too often. I want to remain in the Word of God today so that I will make wise choices in my life. I want to read His Word and then obey what I read so that I will head in the ways He wants me to go. The great news is that when I realized I was headed toward Washington DC rather than home, I was able to adjust and return to the right direction. God gives us that same option today! Praise God for His Word and His grace!