God’s GPS

             I have no sense of direction.  If it’s left, I’ll turn right. If it’s north, I’ll go south. I can remember when we first moved to the DFW metroplex, I was on the George Bush Turnpike trying to get to Plano.  I realized instead of Plano, I was headed towards Irving and because of my error, would be extremely late to my appointment.  One of the things I liked about working in New York City was I could get around fairly easy because I understood the city’s grid. I worked at 7th and 33rd. If I traveled downtown, the numbers would go down, east or west the numbers would go up or down.  EASY.

            But in most cities, it doesn’t work that way.  That’s why I was a happy girl when someone invented in-car navigation systems. I will never get lost again. I am thankful for that technology.

            There’s another navigation system I am eternally thankful for.  God’s GPS. I plugged into it years ago and the Lord has taken me places I would have never gone on my own.

            When I rededicated my life to Christ, he took me through the school zone.  I had been traveling at high speed during the early part of my career and he needed to slow me down to learn about him. I did not grow up in the church so God started me out slow by having me teach Sunday school for ten years. If you’re like me and need to learn the basics about the Bible, teaching Sunday school is a great place to start.

            He recalculated my route. After 19 years as a television sportscaster, God pushed me in another direction.  While it was difficult to travel a road I had never been on before, God’s GPS knew what was ahead and he had a different plan for my life.  It required a new route and a new job.

            God’s GPS took me down roads I’d never been on.  If I had been drawing the map, it would have never included stops at seminary, leading women’s ministry or now overseeing a ministry outside the church. We have to realize when God is doing the navigation, there will be surprise destinations along the way. That makes life exciting.

            Sometimes, when God navigates us, there are dark roads. The first couple of years after I moved to North Texas were extremely difficult. I had lost my connections, friends, family,  my public persona and the workplace environment that I thrived in. I was in a dark alley without a flashlight. But as I look back, I realize God led me down this particular road to break me of my pride and strengthen my prayer life. He needed to grow me spiritually before I could serve him effectively.

            Occasionally, the route will be bumpy. Using God’s navigation doesn’t mean life will be perfect.  There will be disappointments along the way, sickness and death, but if you as Carrie Underwood sings, let “Jesus take the wheel” you know that God, with his heavenly four-wheel drive will help you maneuver through the uneven roads.

            When we plug into God’s GPS, there will be days when God calls us to STOP, YIELD or TURN AROUND. Have you experienced this? Our ways are not his ways and when he throws up a road sign in front of us, we need to trust him and not second guess his direction.

            Is there an area of your life you are holding onto but God wants you to let it go? It’s time to YIELD to him.

            Are you headed down a path contrary to God’s word or standards? You need to TURN AROUND.

            Does your life move at lightning speed, so fast that you don’t have time for God?  Then it’s time to STOP and reprioritize your life with the Lord at the center.

            God’s GPS works. If you plug into it, hold on. It’ll be the ride of your life!

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).