Directional Changes- Are you willing to bend? |
We want big directional signs from God, God just wants us to pay attention- Lysa TerKeurst |
Proverbs 4:20-27
"My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the mindset of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil."
Yesterday as I was dropping
my daughter for volleyball practice, I ended up behind a truck that was turning into
the YMCA parking lot. I was waiting for the driver to turn, when I noticed that
their right blinker was on. This would have been fine, but for the fact that
they were turning left. At some point the blinker lights changed to left, then
back to right, then to left again. It was almost as if the driver did not know which
way they wanted to turn. Seeing as how turning right would have placed them in
the middle of the football field, I knew that they would have to turn left. But
what if we had just been at a four way intersection? I would not have known
what their intentions were, and it would have caused greater confusion.
I believe that it is the same
in our walk with the Lord. The world is watching our blinkers. They are looking
to see which way we are going to turn when circumstances change for the worse.
They are looking to see if the way we live Mon-Sat measures up to what we
proclaim on Sunday morning. They are looking to see if we really and truly
believe and serve this Jesus we tell them can meet their every need. Do we
believe that ourselves? Do you believe it?
If we are walking around,
living as the world lives, we are sending mixed signals. We are telling the
world that to live for Christ is only meant for Sunday mornings, in the comfort
our church buildings, lifting up our high and lofty praises to God, but meaning
very little in our hearts. Scripture tells us in Proverbs 4:20-27 that we are
to keep a watch over our eyes and our hearts, because the “issues” of life flow
from there. We have to realize that what we put into our hearts through our
eyes and ears, comes out through our mouths and actions. I am sure you have all
heard the term “garbage in, garbage out”. Are you mindful of what you allow in?
This same passage tells us
that we need to be careful to keep our eyes focused straight ahead- do not look
to the left or the right. I believe this equates to keeping our eyes fixed on
Jesus. It is easy to stray if we are looking around us at all the glitter and
sparkle that the world offers. All the temptations that satan provides to
entice us into sin. But if our focus is on Him, and we are trusting Him to make
our path sure, we will have much less chance to slip up and fall. And we will
be much less likely to send mixed signals to the world.
Are you ready to set your
course? Then do as Isaiah instructs in 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is fixed on You, because he trusts you.” Keep your eyes fixed on
Jesus. It will bring you peace as you faithfully follow Him, and your blinker
will point the world to Him as well.
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