Trust Me -- I Have a Plan....God

My month-long hiatus ended yesterday, and today I’m moving over to the main house to reconnect with my family. What a great day to return to the real world – the newlyweds arrived (grandkids, Braden and Ruth) and oh how sweet it is to catch up with them. After all, I haven’t seen them since their wedding weekend. They are every bit as in love today (and more) than on that beautiful day in October. I know I’ve been immersed in this month of love with acknowledging God’s love for us and our love for Him, our love for our loved ones and our love for our babies……but I don’t think any love compares to that of finding that sweet romantic, everlasting love between a man and a woman. And, my grandson and his bride clearly demonstrate that sweet love.

Now I'm reflecting on the incredible opportunity to have spent an entire month of solitude -- really focusing on my relationship with God (with the exception of a few times when I needed to be on "Nana duty"). Did I get all the answers I was asking for during this sweet time? No, but something big changed inside me. Though I’m not so much a planner as I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of gal, I really did want to know where my journey, this year, was going to take me. A clear, defined destination would have been a wowzer result of my time alone with God. But I realized, God was offering me His hand instead of an itinerary and a map. I continue to hear His words: “Trust Me! Trust Me enough to know you don’t have to know the way ahead. I do. Hold onto Me. I’m holding onto you. Tomorrow will come and I will be there with you. I know where you’re headed and that’s what matters most."

Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

I’ve learned to practice more listening to God’s voice each day. Since this day is the one He made and I’m told to rejoice in it…..I’ve come to realize I don’t need to overthink my tomorrows. I know I need to be intentional to stop and listen to His voice. That Voice is calling me, and YOU, to stop worrying and planning for tomorrow as a way of distraction and procrastination — and listen to what He has to say to us today.

This Voice is kinder and more loving than all the voices that push us, rush us, and criticize us. This Voice wants to provide just what we need this very moment. And calls us to trust Him beyond what we can’t see ahead.

This day….we need to let go of some things that seem so pressing, so that we can be im-pressed by our loving Father that says “Peace be still” and “Be still and know that I am God” and “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

MY Way on the Highway?

Remember the folded up maps we once used when we headed out for road trips? I loved being the navigator! Those maps, and I, most certainly kept us right on course to get to our destination faster. And, that was important, because we didn't do a lot of dilly dallying when it came to road trips.

But it's a new era! "Personal Navigation Systems" are found in vehicles and smartphones all over the world. The first PNAs were hand-held units used by the U.S. military. Today that technology is supported by 24 satellites orbiting the earth, with three available at any one time for our device to use. WOW! There's just no reason why we should EVER get lost if we followed the voice of Miss GPS. Even still, I'll hear her, and think "MY way is better", and before long she's saying "Make a legal U-turn!" And, I think, "If only I'd followed her directions!" The most sophisticated directional technology in the world is not much help if we won't follow its directions.

And it's the same with listening and following the directions of He Who knows everything about everything and is ALWAYS accurate in His course directions. When we follow God's instructions, and not waver off the path He's laid out for us, or think "my way is better"...then, there will be no anxiety or concern about getting lost -- He'll make sure we'll get to where we need to go, and arrive when we need to get there!!

I posted this scripture yesterday, but it merits repeating today. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your OWN understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6