My Onboard Navigation

This past week my husband and I had to drive to another city for a doctor appointment. Before leaving our driveway I "plugged in" the address of our destination in the onboard navigation and asked for the fastest route.  The "sweet woman" immediately said, "please proceed to the highlighted route and your guidance will begin".  Once we got out on the highway she periodically would say, "continue on the highlighted route."

Each time that we were approaching a place where we could possibly veer off of our "preferred route", she would start gently warning us of our upcoming turn ahead.  As it got closer, she would again remind us that just shortly ahead we would be making our turn.  Finally, as we got to the appointed place to turn, she would once again remind us to turn to stay on the correct route.

We followed directions fine on the way to the appointment, but on our way back home, we became distracted and were not listening to our instructions at one point and we missed a turn. After a few minutes of silence, the "sweet woman" recalculated our route and very patiently and politely told us what we needed to do to get ourselves back on track again.  She didn't seem to be upset with us at all.

It got me to thinking......

Is this not a lot like our trip through life as a Christian?

Many years ago, I made a decision about where I wanted to go.  I made Heaven my"HOME" destination and God planned out the route for me to get there. His Holy Spirit is continually urging me to "continue on the highlighted route".  But, so many times I have ignored His directions and gone my own way.  Sometimes I intentionally go in a direction that I know is not His preferred route for me--despite His repeated warnings.

When I make a wrong turn or I choose to go in a different direction from the preferred route He has planned for me, He patiently recalculates my route. He never seems to get upset with me.  If I take the time to listen, He will tell me where to turn and what I need to do to get back on track.

He knows where I am going.

He has mapped out my route.

He has calculated how long I will travel.

But what happens when I get "behind the wheel" of my life?  I get distracted.  I take a wrong turn.  Sometimes I am WAY off track, but He patiently recalculates my route and guides me back onto the preferred route. 

I need to remember to start out each day with my destination as "HOME"  and ask Him to "RESUME GUIDANCE".

Hebrews 2:1  "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."

Lord, 

Thank you that you have planned out a preferred route for me to lead me to my final destination of Heaven. When I do make a wrong turn, help me to listen to that still small voice and follow the leading of your Holy Spirit to get back on to that preferred route that You have for me. Thank you that you never lose your patience with me. Thank you that you are always "onboard" with me, guiding me, if I will only listen and follow your directions. Help me to start out each day listening to my "onboard navigation" telling me the way that I should go. Amen.