A few years ago my wife bought me a GPS for Christmas. She was tired of me getting lost on my way here or there and thought that this thing would help. My sense of direction is not the problem. I know where I want to go. My problem is that my mind wanders and the next thing I know I am heading to work (or home) out of habit instead of going to the market or lumber yard.
The GPS is handy. It has a female voice that reminds me where I am supposed to turn and this keeps me on track. However, when I am driving and I start to contemplate politics, or the world food crisis, or the best French fry I have ever had, I am not totally focused on the tiny little screen that shows me where to go. So when the sultry tone of the female copilot tells me to “exit right in 500 feet” I usually wind up taking the A instead of the B exit. This heads me in the wrong direction and within a few seconds the GPS reports, “Off route. Recalculating.”
A while back I was driving and my mind started to contemplate the similarities between this directional GPS and my spiritual GPS. I believe that the Holy Spirit is my spiritual GPS and when I wander His gentle (sometimes not so gentle) leading will set me back on the right path.
We are all off route. Our sinful nature constantly pulls us off course. Angry words, selfish behavior, and pride will detour us from the straightest course. The constant distractions of this world beguile us and lead us onto exit ramps from our walk with God. We need not be anxious though. God is faithful. He knows where I am and better yet He knows where I am supposed to be. After all, He had the route planned for me before I took my first breath, and He will be there guiding me as I take my last.
Off Route - Recalculating 