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God is Not my GPS

Most people nowadays plug in their destination on GPS anytime we are heading somewhere any significant distance away even if it's a familiar location.  And if you're like me, when the GPS gives you and estimated travel time, your first thought is, "challenge accepted."  And if you're more like, you also try your own personal shortcuts sometimes only to hear the oh so polite, yet annoying, voice saying, "recalculating."

I've seen sayings on shirts and articles online about God being our GPS.  And I used to go along with that thought thinking it's cute and anytime we can get God in the conversation, there's potential for life change so that's always a plus.

But if we really think about it, God is not like a GPS.  With our GPS, we set our desired destination and it tells us a route that is either the fastest, shortest, or easiest to get there.  But with God, sometimes we don't know our final destination, much less the exact time that we should be getting there.  I do not mean that we are unsure of our eternal destination in heaven for all who have accepted salvation.  Yes, once we place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we know that will be our final reward...though we still don't know when we'll get there.

But God functions differently from our GPS.  I've been praying and seeking His direction for my life a lot lately.  I've asked where He wants to be and what He wants me to be doing now, in 1 year, in 5 years, and even in 20 years.  I plugged in my destination and got nothing.  Did I enter something wrong?  Am I living with unconfessed sin in my life?  Why isn't God answering?

He does and He did.  You see, God tell us how to live our lives daily.  If He laid out his master plan for the rest of our lives, we would probably question what kind of God this is.  Look back at the path you have traveled to get to where you are.  Would you have done it that way?  Likely not, but God takes us down the BEST path, not the quickest or easiest.  And He doesn't give us the final destination.  If we knew God's plan for the rest of our lives we would not have to live by faith.  But God offers turn by turn directions requiring us to be ready to hear Him and be willing to follow Him.  We don't get the Master's plan up front.

So plan for your future.  Think about where you want to be 1 year, 5 years, even 20 years from now.  Dream big for your family, your career, and especially your faith.  But always be ready and willing to take the next turn off the path you considered whenever God calls us and says, "Recalculating."  He likely has greater things in store than we ever imagined.

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