Nowhere to Somewhere…

Nowhere to Somewhere

 

We seemed to take the wrong turn every time. We had Lola (my GPS) but she was confusing us and we were obviously easily confused. Karen and I were on unfamiliar roads and what seemed natural to us was not the best way. Lola had mapped a plan. She knew where we needed to be. But, when she said turn here we turned there almost every time.

One thing about Lola…she can take me on what seems to be the long way. She and I often argue on the best way, the quickest way. She’s persistent. She re-calculates over and over while I am arguing and trying my way. Sounds like our lives doesn’t it?

As we pull out some spiritual principles from our scriptures above,  we get the opportunity to ask God, “What are you teaching in these verses?”

Barricade the road…The Psalmist made several bold requests and we see a great example of this one in the book of Acts. The Holy Spirit blocked Paul and Silas from the path they chose and redirected their journey. “Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go.” (16:7, NLT) We can ask the Holy Spirit to throw up the barricade. God’s desire is to help us. Our desire must be to accept His help. Believe me, Lola told us to “turn around when possible” many times.

Clear revelation…God does speak to those who will listen. He will make the path clear. God has made some promises on this. “A person plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NET and I love this one in Isaiah 30:21 NLT,

“Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left.” 

We have a choice…Just as the Psalmist committed to run the course if the Holy Spirit will show him how, we must make the same promise. Life is full of choices. So many roads, so many opportunities. That’s why the next point is crucial. We must…

Pay attention to the signs…You know the old saying, “If I had a penny for…” well, if I had a penny for every time Lary said I wouldn’t get lost if I would read the signs we would have a nice little vacation fund. Our Bible is the Christian’s “life” atlas. I heard Joyce Meyer say that when people tell her God doesn’t speak to them like He does her she asks, “You don’t have a Bible?” I think The Message describes knowing what’s in our Bible and how it applies to our life beautifully, “I post your road signs at every curve an corner.”

The road to nowhere seems so easy to travel – no expectations or commitments. But for me, God has placed this yearning, this urge to travel somewhere with Him. Like a magnet, I am pulled toward Him. The closer I get to walking out His plan, the stronger that pull feels.

How about you? Are you feeling the tug of God’s magnetic field? Do you have a “somewhere” you and God are traveling towards? I would love for you to share.

If you were encouraged by this post, you may enjoy these also

Going Back Seems So Easy

When We Don’t Understand the Timing

When We Are Afraid We Will Drown

Linking with…

Jennifer Dukes Lee – #TellHisStory                 Holly Barrett – Testimony Tuesday

Susan B. Mead – #DanceWithJesus                 Barbie Swihart – The Weekend Brew

Kelly Balarie – #raralinkup                                     Bonnie Gray – Faith Barista

Meredith Bernard – Woman2Woman                   Sue Detweiler

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34 Comments

  1. I chuckled to myself when you compared the road we travel and how we get there to our GPS. I have been known to follow my own twists and turns to the frustration of the GPS which has to recalculate. God has a path for me but as of this time it has not all been revealed. As I retire in June I am sure that I will learn more. Blessings!

  2. Carmen, the directions from one source and then the confusion in my head get me to try to do things MY WAY. Oh, he plays a mean part in all of this, and that is what he likes. But God wants us to follow Him and that is my desire. Thank you for a fine post for me.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

  3. Such encouraging words as we traveled with you and Lola. You are an encourager of the body. Coming to you from the weekend brew too. You’ve encouraged me – let me encourage you too. This is a little something I wrote about hearing to that voice in the ear you speak of:

    It takes an effort to listen
    A willingness to understand
    Determination to know

    God’s encouragement goes unnoticed
    Affirmation overlooked
    Directions ignored
    Warnings unheeded

    The cost of not listening is high

    Unhearing ears exchange the truth for a lie
    Depression whispers
    Heartache cries
    Fear yells

    And the father of lies lifts his head in victory

    How can we learn to listen?
    I will yield – lean in to learn
    Come Holy Spirit, come

    Truth stands fast
    Love holds steady
    Tender kindness touches the soul

    Listen!
    God is victorious
    Lies must flee in His presence

    Words of wisdom whispered
    Knowledge uncovered
    Understanding revealed

    God is here
    Can you hear Him?

  4. God does speak to those who will listen. He will make the path clear. God has made some promises on this. “A person plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NET and I love this one in Isaiah 30:21 NLT…I LOVE the Isaiah verse too. And it is only as we still and let our hearts hear His that we catch a glimpse of the road ahead. And He is so good to lead us one baby step at a time as we travel to Somewhere with Him…Beautiful! …AND I fight with our “Natalie” too! :)

  5. Carmen, this was a wonderful post! “GOD has placed this yearning, this urge to travel somewhere with HIM. Like a magnet, I am pulled toward HIM. The closer I get to walking out HIS plan, the stronger that pull feels.” <— I absolutely love this! Like you, I yearn for HIS PRESENCE because it is there that I am strengthened and comforted. HE is my joy and my peace. I'm so very thankful for such a loving GOD. Thank you for sharing this! You are a great blessing to me! Infinite blessing to you, Love! :-)

    #DanceWithJESUSLinkup ;-)

  6. I love the comparison to listening to the GPS! If we choose to listen, it can get us unstuck! And what a great reminder that God speaks through His word, which is living and real!
    Thank you for speaking such wonderful words.

  7. Lola brought a smile. :-) His Word, barricades, choices, and revelation brought a head nod. So true. #WriteOn #JesusGirl Visiting you today because, well, I simply enjoy spending time with you. Brought here via #DanceWithJesusLinkUp

  8. Oh, yes, Carmen…how many times have I acted – travelled – to unknown destinations, without his guidance, his road signs! Love the way The Message puts the Psalm you shared. I love reading the scriptures in different versions; and many times The Message Bible puts it so plainly…how can we miss what He is wanting us to hear?!

    Thanks for sharing!

  9. Oh, yes, I have that yearning to travel somewhere with Him…and what a journey in trust and walking in faith it is, because so often I have no idea where we’re headed…I just know it’s “somewhere.” :) Visiting today from #RaRaLinkup.

    Blessings,
    Laura

  10. Yearning with you to travel “somewhere” with Him! May we have ears to hear and hearts to understand which way He wants us to go! Thank you, Carmen, for this inspiring reminder of seeking God’s direction. I’m your neighbor at Bonnie’s.

  11. Yes! I have the urge to travel SOMEWHERE with Him! I need to watch for the signs, because I don’t know where we’re going!?! And, we usually call our GPS well, Stupid, because she tries to take the crazy way out of the way routes. If I put a spiritual application on that, I will have to re-name her…Thanks Carmen!

  12. I don’t have a GPS yet in my car, although I guess I have one on my IPhone. But even with that, I use the foldout map in the car. I taught my son how to use the map. He found out how valuable that is when a friend was using his GPS to find a location. The GPS led him completely astray. That’s when my son called me and asked directions. I asked, “Doesn’t Jake have a map in his car?” Alas, no map. I was flabbergasted!! No map! You know, that could preach huh? We need to know the Word so badly and rely on so many other sources.

  13. Our GPS’s name is Zelda! I love that Message version of those verses in Psalm 119. Oh we do need his word up as a signpost at EVERY turn.

    I think I do have a somewhere that God is leading me towards. I hope it’s towards being a free-lance writer! (It makes sense for me to do something I love to earn some money now that my kids will be graduating from high school soon, and we NEED all the money we can get for college! :-) ) That’s where I think He’s leading me, but we’ll have to see…

    That Joyce Meyer quote had me laughing!