I use a GPS in my rental car when I travel to cities on lecture tours. I’ve learned that if I pay close attention to what Miss Garmin tells me to do I make proper turns and get to where I need to be.
But occasionally, my mind wanders while driving down a highway. I start thinking about cases in my practice, or projects I need to complete. When a turn comes up, my GPS suddenly speaks up with new directions, and I have to respond quickly to get it right. Usually, it’s no problem. I’m ready enough to hear, understand and turn. My drive proceeds smoothly. But sometimes, the decision is complicated and I’m confused. This happens in big cities where off ramps and side ramps and this way and that way all confront me at once, and even though I hear the GPS correctly, I look at my options in front and am not sure at which angle I’m supposed to go. The choices are too similar! More than once, I’ve made the wrong choice and had to backtrack.
Learning the hard way, I’ve noticed that when I leave the radio off, don’t let my mind wander and pay strict attention to what the GPS instructs, I can make split decisions correctly, discern the right change no matter how slight, and stay on the proper route. It’s all about the attention. Pay attention, and I get it right! When my mind wanders, I miss subtle distinctions in the GPS instructions, and sometimes get it wrong.
The same rule applies to every course of action in life.
We are constantly being led by God to progressive places in family, work, career, supply, health and life. The big question is, “Are we paying attention?”
God is like a Big Garmin that never makes a mistake, always gets it right, and takes us to the right place the best way. (I know this doesn’t happen with man-made GPS…LOL. But please play along with my analogy anyway. :-))
When the instruction to make a progressive choice in our life comes, do we hear it and get it right? Are we paying attention? Or is our mind so distracted by mortal daydreaming, selfish wants and desires, fear, idleness, or ignorance that we miss the critical signals?
Making decisions we later regret, making the “wrong turn” in career, family, marriage, constant backtracking, making up for lost time, having to do it over again, and similar circumstances, can be avoided when we get it right the first time. And often, that comes from paying close attention, from turning off the mental/physical/emotional distractions that get in the way of clear thinking and prevent us from hearing God’s voice.
If God is your GPS for life, you have an excellent guide! You will get to the best place the best possible way. But be sure you are paying attention and not getting distracted by other agendas. That’s your role to ensure a successful trip!
“Pray without ceasing.” Apostle Paul
Pay attention without ceasing!
Ahh…yes…the ultimate GPS…
A God Positioning System
🙂
I love love love analogies, metaphors, parables,
symbols! Another good one, Evan!
God’s Positioning Service! Right on,
commenter!
:<))))))))
Oh! How Mortal Mind distracts one, especially when hearing on Radio, which I do every Sunday Morning at 7AM on WOR 710, the C/ S Sentinel Radio program. I try very hard to keep my ears tuned to what is being said, but alas, sometimes my thought is on what will I do today. Thank God for the JSH- ON-LINE. I can always go back.
What an excellent article and it is so needed in my experience at this time! Thank your for the clarity!
Great analogy! I like the previous comment “A God Positioning System.” This is a GPS I can always trust.
I will have a new way of thinking about the GPS system from now on! God is global. And universal. And omnipresent. Yay God!
Kathleen