Our Navigator

I did some reading this week about the North Star.  Polaris is the northern pole star,  known as the North Star.  While other stars' positions in the sky change throughout the night, as they rotate around the poles, the pole star’s position remains fixed. This makes the North Star especially useful in navigation: it is a dependable indicator of the direction toward the North Pole.  Although modern technology doesn’t make this star as vital as it was in ancient times, we all know that sometimes technology encounters a glitch ….and if you really need to know in what direction you are moving the North Star always points North towards the North Pole.
So what you say?  It dawned on me that we often find ourselves looking to many resources for direction in our lives.  Yet, we are blessed with a fixed, accurate guide to always point us in the right direction.  GOD IS TRULY OUR PERSONAL NAVIGATOR.  We never have to wonder about which way to go… about what direction will lead us toward happiness, purpose, peace, and confidence of moving in the right direction.  This thought took me to PROVERBS 3.
The key verses in this chapter are verses 5-6,

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

God has given His Word to guide in every detail of life so that the life we live is led by His truth. If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He who is faithful has promised to direct our paths.  God has given us such a wonderful assurance of guidance into a way of righteous living! 
Here are some reminders about how we are to receive the Lord’s direction: (vv. 1-12)
1) Learn God’s truth through His Word. Seek Him and His direction through Bible study and prayer.  It’s good for us to remind ourselves that we are not smarter than God!

Psalm 25:4 (NLT)  Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.

2) Receive His direction by consistent obedience to His Word and His Will.

Deuteronomy 5:33 (NLT)  Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

 3) Share God’s blessings with others…Proverbs 3:9 (MSG) Honor GOD with everything you own; give him the first and the best.  Giving is heart preparation for God’s directions in our lives.

4) Accept and learn from God’s discipline. Submitting to His discipline is submitting to His work in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ.  God’s involvement in our lives will never point us away from Jesus.
5) Trust God….don’t try to fit His Word – His Way – His Will into “what makes sense” in this world. 
Our Navigator – Our Personal North Star is readily available always!

Proverbs 3:5-7 (MSG)
⁵ Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. ⁶ Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. ⁷ Don't assume that you know it all. Run to GOD!...

Joyfully,
Yvonne

What Is God's Concern?

It is not that we should not bring our small concerns to God – there is nothing too small or too large to bring to God in prayer, but sooner or later we must ask God what is his concern in the world.