I am now officially a blogger! For many years now I have felt compelled to write encouraging words and have done so, through letters and emails. Lately I have been greatly encouraged by Holly’s blog. Holly and I cut our teeth together in the journalism industry way back in high school. Through her words and these:

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” (Heb 10:23-24)

I spent the weekend driving around the DFW area with Holly. She flew in to attend a taping of one of Beth Moore’s ministries. The teachings were wonderful, but I have to say, “thank you Lord!” for the navigation system in my car! We drove from the airport to Arlington to Euless to Bedford to downtown Dallas and all points in between. I’ve only lived in the area for a year, and my forays into that area of town have been limited to…one. The taping was held at Life Outreach International. Holly had great fun plugging in the name of our destinations and watching as “Claire,” (the name we gave the navi system because the voice is so crisp and clear), told me to “take the exit on the right, then second right.” Perhaps the best feature of all is the ability to simply touch “Go Home” on the touchscreen, and the computer maps out directions from anywhere to home sweet home.

And that brings me to a remembrance I have of my daughter’s comment shortly after we got our car several years ago. Cadi was and is intensely interested in all things having to do with technology and was fascinated with the navigation system. Imagine our surprise when our then-six year old said, “God is our GPS! He tells us where to turn!”

Indeed, he does! I like her metaphor. But there is a key difference. The GPS in my car isn’t perfect. On a couple of our trips, it led us to the wrong destination. The roads have changed since the last update, and Claire tells me take the left exit when I really have to take the right. Even though I rely on that computer to help me traverse the unknown, I am on my toes. I have to carefully watch the signs and know that the computer isn’t fail-proof.

But my God IS fail-proof! Hallelujah! He IS perfect! And His directions never fail. They will never tell me to go left when I’m supposed to go right. And though I don’t see them specifically laid out in blue on the screen, they are whispered straight to my heart. For God promised,

“But this is the new covenant I will make…I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Heb 8:10)

With God’s law written on the tablet of my heart, I am guaranteed fail-proof directions. He may send me on a detour, but it will be for His purposes and for my good. Sometimes, he changes the nature of the road I’m on:

“You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.” (2Sam 22:37)

“You have made known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:10-11)

Though I do not have a button to push that says, “Go Home,” I know that one day the path of my life will lead me to my heavenly home with my Jesus. The Holy Spirit in my heart directs me through unknown terrains just as sure as the GPS in my car, only better. My car’s battery dies, the tires wear out, and when it runs out of gas, the GPS is worthless. But God is writing his path for me on my heart every day, moment by moment. He never fails, never runs out of gas, never gives up. He’s writing on your heart, too. Have you reviewed the map of your heart lately to see if you’re walking on the path he is leading?