TRUST THE DIRECTIONS

I was driving to an appointment in Jacksonville Florida a month ago. Because I didn't know where I was going I secured direction to my appointment on Mapquest. Leaving the hotel that cool afternoon, I was really looking forward to a nice warm sun in Jacksonville but unfortunately all I got was a chill the entire four days I was in the city, I drove confidently through the streets of this unfamiliar city with my directions on the seat next to me. I approached a bridge and crossed it enjoying a quick glimpse of the river as I ascended on the expressway. I started looking for signs to indicate that I was going the right way and after reading several signs I became concerned because the signs were not given me any indication that I was going in the direction that Mapquest had communicated to me. After driving for a while I decided that I was going the wrong way and that Mapquest had let me down. I drove off the expressway at the next exit and turned around deciding to go back the way that I had come. When I got to the street that I had gotten on at the expressway I got off, but now I was driving in the opposite direction. At this point I was very flustered because I was going to be late for my appointment and I didn't have a lot of time to spare before I have to go to the airport to get back home. I started praying for direction and I was led to turn at the next intersection and then to make one more turn at another intersection. Driving down the street I looked up and saw a huge sign with several road names that I was looking for as I traveled the expressway. I was going the right way but to my amazement and shame the way that I was now going was the way that I was going before. The only difference now was I was starting at the beginning of the expressway where the sign gave me the information I was seeking as I drove on the expressway. The exit where I had gotten on the expressway was further down the road from where I now was. If I had just trusted the directions I would been at my destination instead of starting over. I had wasted 25 minutes getting off the right way going the wrong way because I didn't trust the directions and in an unfamiliar place I decided to get off the right path.

This Jacksonville adventure spoke loudly to me about the lives of many persons. In Proverbs 3:6 Solomon says, "IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS." The Holy Spirit will give you the directions that you need to get where you need to go but because you don't trust His directions when you get in a unfamiliar place you get frustrated with where you are going. And in your frustration with your journey you decided to get off the path and turn around only to discover that you were really going the right way. How do then get back to the right path? Do what I did, ACKNOWLEDGE HIM by asking Him to get you back to where you need to be and He will. The Holy Spirit will lead you back to the way that you left. And the next time He leads you into a unfamiliar place and the signs are not saying that you are going the right way TRUST THE DIRECTIONS.