How To Use the Correct GPS–God Positioning System
I would consider myself “directionally challenged”. Just ask my husband. It doesn’t take much for me to get lost. I’m a HUGE fan of GPS now though. Where were personal GPS devices 19 years ago when I was driving to my in-laws’ new house in Texas for the first time? A GPS would have saved me several wrong turns and a very tearful conversation on the phone with my father-in-law (there might have even been some frantic yelling on my part 🙂 ) as he was trying to verbally direct me to their ranch. Apparently you can turn both ways on a loop, and if you go the wrong way and then take a right-hand turn you will end up completely opposite of where you want to be. Oops.
“Directionally challenged” in life
I’ve discovered that sometimes I can be “directionally challenged” in life too, and like a lot of people, I don’t always seek direction and guidance. Sometimes I even flat-out ignore it. It’s either…
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- “I don’t need your help. I can do it by myself.”
- “No way! I’m not doing that!”
- “That’s got to be the wrong way.”
- “I think this way might be better.”
- “I don’t trust you. What if you’re wrong?”
- or something similar
Next thing I know, I end up lost or completely opposite of where I should be. What’s even more sad is that a lot of times the guidance I’m ignoring is God’s. The funny thing is, though, that God’s directions (or destination) never change. He just keeps pointing me right back to the same place. He has a plan for my life, and no matter what I might do to sabotage that, He just keeps turning me back around to start heading back in the right direction again.
I heard somebody say once that God will not advance your instructions beyond your last act of disobedience. Therefore, if I’m stuck or lost, I just need to go back and do the last thing that God told me to do. God should ALWAYS be my source of direction, my GPS.
We need to seek God for direction and guidance–use our GPS, God Positioning System. Psalm 23:3 says “…He guides me along right paths…” God will always show us the way to go if we’ll just look to and trust Him.
Refusing direction and getting back on the right path
A lot of times we refuse to use a GPS. This might be for a couple of reasons. One reason may be pride. We don’t want to admit we need help, we think we can do it all on our own or we think our way is better. Another reason may be a lack of faith or trust in the GPS. Some global positioning systems need updating and occasionally get it wrong or take you off course. God never needs updating and never gets it wrong–He’s infallible.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Much like a global positioning system, whenever we get off course or try to follow our own sense of direction God will “recalculate” and get us back on the correct course or path. God will always meet us where we are, even when we mess up. It’s like He just says “OK, you took the wrong road…let’s get you back on the right one.” He’ll do it every time, again and again, as long as we look back to Him. He never says “No, you’re on your own this time. You don’t listen to me anyway!” In fact He actually says “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5, and Hebrews 13:5).
Take Some Practical Steps (Use your GPS!):
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First, humble yourself.
Stop being prideful. Admit that you can’t do everything on your own and that you don’t know everything about everything. Recognize your need for help.
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Secondly, learn to trust God.
You have to believe that He really does have a good plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11), and He has your best interest at heart (as any good parent does). He knows what He’s doing, and He sees the big picture. You don’t. He will never misdirect you.
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Then, listen for direction from your GPS and follow it!
Stop ignoring God. Listen to His instructions to you. Look at your map (aka your bible). Listen for His voice (it might sound something like this).
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Finally, get back on the right track when you mess up.
Don’t beat yourself up when you get lost or disobey. Just get back on the right road. God is not mad at you. Let me say that again…GOD IS NOT MAD AT YOU! You are never so far off course that God can’t get you back on the right path. Just go back to the last thing He told you to do and do it. If you forgot what that was, ask Him. He’ll tell you again. Just like Siri does…over and over and over… so annoying (not God, just Siri).
If we want to get to our destination, we need to start humbling ourselves, trusting in God, and looking to our GPS (God Positioning System) for direction and guidance. “Please proceed to the highlighted route…”
Can you relate to being directionally challenged? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.
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Updated post (*originally published 9/30/14)
Recently, i’ve been thinking that maybe i was on the wrong track. Last year i choose to enter a design school when in confused state, i regret it so much since i think i’m not very talented, but then God give me this verse (Matthew 3:15 (NLT)) when i cried and asked him what should i do.
Because of it, i stop doubting and enter that design school. but when i see at my own design and compare it to my friends, i begin to doubt again, i felt like no matter how hard i tried i can only get B, the rest was B- and C and to be honest i started feeling that God left me but then i found your articles that God plan for me never change, i really think before that i should quit design school, i’m not meant to be here, there’s must be something wrong. Should i go back to my last act of disobedience? God specifically told me to wake up in the morning, read His Word, have quiet time with Him, but i didn’t do it.
What should i do when i started to doubt my destiny?
Btw i really love your articles, it always speak to me at the right time, God Bless u and your family.
I think when you start to doubt, the best thing you can do is seek God for direction. Pray and ask Him what you are supposed to do. Then listen and look for ways that He talks to you. One of the best ways He speaks to us is through His Word (the bible)…so if you know you’ve disobeyed by not reading and spending time with Him, definitely start there! 🙂 The bible also teaches us that there is wisdom in the counsel of many (Proverbs 15:22). This just means that it’s a good idea to get advice from a few trusted, wise people (people that you KNOW won’t lead you down the wrong path). I’ve also always been taught that in really big, tough decisions when you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything immediately (never make rash decisions). God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), so He will never try to confuse you. He wants you to be at peace. Therefore it’s always wise to follow peace. If you feel “red flags” or “checks” about a decision, then that might be an indicator that it may not be the best decision. So my 3 practical steps for you 🙂 would be #1-Seek God, #2-Seek advice from others, & #3-Follow peace. Lastly, I’d like to give you a bit of encouragement. I know from personal experience (both as a former student and now as a professor) that school/college can be extremely tough. Honestly, it just flat-out sucks at times! But there is payoff in the end if you don’t give up–even if you don’t make perfect grades. Galatians 6:9 says “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” If God is calling you to stay at the design school, hang in there. It will get better. If God has called you to it, He will help you through it. Just stay close to Him so you can lean on Him.
I’m so glad my articles are helpful for you! I will be praying for you too. I’ll pray for God to lead you to the right decision and to give you peace about it. Don’t hesitate to contact again if you have other concerns, questions or just need prayer! 😉
Thank you Tracy! i’m really glad that you care and answer me, i’ve made mistakes, many of them because i took decisions before i know Jesus. Thank you for your encouragement, God also encourage me too when i’m about to quit (i remember when i think about it)
I think i’ll stay in my college and believe just like you say, things will get better. God never plans evil for his daughter right :’).