Row, row, row your boat . . . but let God be your compass.
I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23 NIV).
No matter how hard we try to live our lives our way, God is always going to guide us. We may not realize that He is doing it, but He is. Oh, we may stray on occasion, but He always puts us back on the right course. A little whisper here, a tug on the shoulder there. Oh, He can be very subtle, but He’s there.
This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go” (Isaiah 48:17 NIV).
As we live our day-to-day lives, we need to focus on how we are actually living our lives. Are we just going through the motions each day, getting from point A to point B? Do we start each day with the Lord, or do we set Him aside for Sundays only? And do we really listen on those Sundays?
A lot of people will say that their lives are too busy to stop and read the Bible or to pray. Those people need to realize that God is right beside them as they go about their busy lives. They can talk to Him anytime, and He will listen. God is just waiting for them to realize that He created them and that their lives have no meaning or purpose without Him—no matter how little time they say they have.
No time? Really? That is not an excuse. There is no excuse. There is always time to talk to God and to read from His Word. God knows you better than you know yourself. He knows how “busy” you really are and whether you have the time to spend with Him. When you think about it, our lives would be a lot less hectic if we put God first each day.
We need to stop trying to row our own boat, because even though we are looking one way, God is rowing us in another direction. We need to let go of the oars and allow Him to be our compass and to guide us.
Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long (Psalm 25:4–5 NIV).
Debbie Mitchell