Have you ever had to stop and ask for directions? Do you depend on a GPS or a map? Most likely, we all have needed to recalculate our direction.
Several years ago, while sitting on the sofa watching after-Thanksgiving football, I couldn’t help but notice all the TV commercials for portable Global Positioning Systems.
I was hooked by an ad and stated, “I need one!”
My adult son asked skeptically, “Why would you need that?”
“You‘ve never traveled with Mom. She NEEDS it,” responded my daughter. “That’s why I call our outings ‘Adventures with Mom.’”
As the conversation ended, I didn’t know whether to feel chastised or embarrassed for making a few wrong turns.
That Christmas I was thrilled to open a package and receive a GPS for my car. No more getting lost for me. This little device directs me wherever I need to go. I program it and follow the voice to the destination, listening to audio directions instead of looking at a map.
The unfamiliar voice gives commands for when and where to turn. Generally it is pleasant and helpful. But when I turn a different way than instructed, the intonation becomes stern and says, “RECALCULATING.” The nerve! Does it have to be so blatant and correct me in front of everyone? At least it’s not the sound of a familiar voice from the person next to me saying “You turned the wrong way.“ Maybe recalculating sounds nicer coming from the device after all.
I feel confident knowing I have access to any directions I need. I can arrive without difficulty, just ask anyone who has traveled with me…wait a minute. They might tell you otherwise. Sometimes it sends me on unexpected roads. Like the time it guided me on a hilly county road instead of the interstate highway. After passing cows and fields, I eventually came upon a farmer on the road and asked for directions. He was more helpful than the GPS, and I finally arrived at my destination. Perhaps the gadget instills false confidence.
Although my fancy device takes me where I want to go most of the time, it can lead me astray. When we need direction in life, it is easy to depend ourselves to make decisions, instead of the Lord.
Here are four harbor lights, for effective decision making when recalculating direction.
When a ship comes into a port at night, the captain looks for certain harbor lights to help him steer the ship to the proper dock. When four separate lights are aligned and he sees only one light, then the ship to pointed to that one light.
The first and most important harbor light is the Word of God. Guidance from the Bible never points off track. It steers us in the right direction, even when we are lost in a maze of choices. The Bible convicts our hearts if we are going awry. This is another impact of God’s grace on our lives. The psalmist David wrote a prayer we can offer up to God still today.
“Show me your ways, LORD teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5
The Word of God is essential to staying on course; it is a compass that points true north when we’ve lost our bearings. This ancient book is still relevant, offering direction and hope. Its message speaks to the conscience and heart. Recalculating is necessary when we are out of God’s will. At those times, we can lean into the wisdom of God’s Word and find redirection from Him. Because God loves us, He is trustworthy to lead us.
Another harbor light is seeking wise counsel of other trusted believers.
By listening to godly wisdom, the Lord can use other people to speak truth into our lives in the context of community. It is easy to become so wrapped up in making a decision that we lose objectivity. The community of believers can offer a point of view we may not have considered.
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14
When we are facing tough decisions, often the enemy of souls moves us into isolation. This detaches us from the wisdom of others. The enemy also can use our stubbornness and pride to prevent us from hearing God’s word. Isolation, stubbornness and pride can lead us to self-sufficiency when we need to hear wise counsel from others.
Another harbor light for the decision making process is the peace of God. Peace is the supernatural calm in the midst of the confusion. Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as member of one body you were to peace.”
By seeking the peace of the Lord through our relationship with Him, we put ourselves in the position to discern His peace. The enemy is the author of confusion; God can bring peace into a chaotic situation. When we turn to the Lord, He calms our hearts, showing us His ways.
The last harbor light to consider in recalculating direction is observing the circumstances around me. God can orchestrate the simplest circumstances to lead us to make the right decisions. Circumstances must be interpreted through the use of the other three harbor lights, because they do not provide reliable guidance by themselves.
When we were faced with the decision to relocate after fifteen years of ministry in one place, we considered each of these harbor lights for direction. God used His word to speak to us—which He did, challenging us to trust Him more; we prayed and asked other trusted believers to pray for wisdom—which they did and confirmed that change was coming; we looked at circumstances that God had orchestrated to point us in the direction of the move—things that only He could coordinate, using unlikely people; and finally, both Rick and I had God’s peace about the decision to move. We had to move forward and trust our Sovereign God, knowing that He would be with us no matter we served Him.
In what areas of your life do need direction from the Lord? How will you allow God’s Word to guide your decision? Have you sought the guidance from other trusted believers? Do you sense God’s peace in the circumstances?
Recalculating your direction won’t be as difficult when you trust in the Lord as the compass for your decisions.
Ultimately the best global positioning system is being in relationship with Jesus Christ, abiding in Him. He is with you wherever you go. (Matthew 28:20)
A portion of this post is taken from the devotional The Grace Impact.
