“The GPS system on my car sure can be helpful,” I commented one morning, “but I also find it to be real annoying at times”
“In what way?” Stan asked.
“The voice is not real pleasant. It’s actually kind of irritating, especially when it keeps saying, ‘route recalculating’ when I’ve failed to follow its instructions.”
“It’s just a mechanical voice,” Stan replied. ”Maybe it’s not the actual voice so much as it is what it’s telling you — that you made a mistake. I know that sort of situation can be a problem with my faith walk.”
“How’s that?” I asked.
“I tend to want to go my own way, doing what I want to do apart from what God has for me. When I do that, I hear from the Holy Spirit telling me I’m going in the wrong direction.”
“And that irritates you?”
“I really hate to admit that,” Stan replied, “but, yes, there are times when I’m so stuck on self that I have that sort of reaction. However, when I come to my senses and acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is just filling His role as the Helper, I say, ‘Thanks’.”
Continuing, he added, “The Holy Spirit is just doing the same thing that your GPS system is trying to do: get you to where you said you wanted to go.”
“Kind of like discipleship,” I commented. “When I said I wanted to be a disciple, Jesus responded and said I need to do the three steps of denying self, taking up what He has for me to take up, and follow Him.”
“That’s right, my friend,” Stan replied. “It’s like you set your spiritual GPS system for a certain direction, which is to follow Jesus wherever He is leading, and when you start heading in the wrong direction the Holy Spirit speaks up and says, “It’s time to recalculate your route!”
“Listening to the voice to get headed in the right direction,” I responded, “sounds just like repentance! I never realized my GPS system may be telling me to repent!”
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Bible verses to consider:
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6.
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17.
Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance. Matthew 3:8.
. . . they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. Acts of the Apostles 26:20.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you want me to be yours in every aspect of the life you have for me to live before I join you in eternity. Thank you, too, for giving me the indwelling Holy Spirit to help me in being yours. I confess that too often I tend to find the voice of the Holy Spirit a bit irritating when He’s telling me to quit going my own way apart from you. Please forgive that self-centered foolishness. Help me in being totally open to all He has to tell me about repenting and changing directions so I am headed in the direction of following you, wherever you want to lead. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you ever find yourself being irritated with the voice of God saying you are going in the wrong direction? If so, what is that all about? Do you find repentance difficult? Why or why not? If you don’t repent as often and as fully as you sense God wants, what can you do about that? Can you do it on you own or does it need the help of the One calling you to repentance?
Waiting for the Train 