GPS Ponderings

Have you heard those in-car GPS's that tell you how to get somewhere?
"in 50 meters turn right"
"at the second exit turn right"
"turn right now"

a friend of mine was driving out western Qld and was quite amused when her GPS said "in 200km, turn right." wow, 200kms of straight road! I think it would get a bit boring after a while - and possible a tad irritating when every 20kms the GPS interrupts with "in 180km, turn right" "in 160km, turn right".

Wouldnt it be nice though if we had a GPS for life!? "in 5 years, take this man to be your husband" "at the second interview, take this job" "move here now" or "in 20 years, do this". i think in theory we might all like the idea of being told what to do instead of figuring it out for ourselves (ok, maybe just us girls!) but i guess it would be a bit boring knowing that far in advance what is going to happen.

It certainly is an interesting journey taking turns wherever God wants you to go, whether it be sharing with a friend or making dinner for a family or spending time with someone who is lonely or quitting your job, selling your house and moving towns. And what would happen if we knew the bad roads? I'm not sure i would be willing to take some of those turns if i knew all that was to follow!

Well, it turns out that actually God did provide us with a GPS for life...GPS stands for Global Positioning System - it shows you where you are in the world, and which way you need to head next. And God has given us His own 'global positioning system' in the practice of prayer. When we pray, we are sharing with God where we are at, and seeking His will for where he wants us to be. When we position ourselves right before him, we are much more likely to be heading in the right direction. And while he doesnt give us details about the road ahead, he does show us which turns to make (or U-turns in some cases!). And he has given us some ripper road tips in the Manual (the Bible)!

Romans 12:12 is one of these - Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, Faithful in Prayer. Or as another version puts it - Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles and pray at all times. I reckon if we follow those road rules our path is going to be a lot straighter.

Let your hope keep you joyful - remember you are on this earth for a purpose - to glorify god and share him with others. You were separated from God by your sin - by going your own way. But because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, and because he rose again, you have a relationship with god and can enjoy him forever into eternity! i know there will be tough patches and rough terrain but if i remember that truth, there is a joy in me that continues through the journey.

Be Patient in your troubles - have you ever been impatiently stuck behind someone and when you finally get the chance to overtake and give them a knowing glare, you realise they are totally oblivious to you and are happily chugging along? or have you ever damaged a car because you have been rushing? Being patient both in the car and in life would save a lot of tension and a lot of damage being done. It is so much easier to find where you are going when you arent rushing. And it is easier not to rush if you are relying on the instructions from your GPS!

Pray at all times - remember your GPS! Get right with God and you are going to be travelling in the right direction and you will be tuned in to hear when he asks you to make a turn. have your GPS on all the time - ask for directions in the little things - say thankyou for a sunset or a wildflower, ask for wisdom when talking to a friend, ask that God would use you to encourage someone else, listen to see what he would like you to do for someone who is hurting or lonely. By using the GPS God gave you, you wont know what lies ahead on the road but it will be the most fulfilling journey you've ever taken!

then right at the end you might hear "you have reached your destination. well done, good and faithful servant!"


Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles and pray at all times (Rom 12:12)