Satnav

I have recently acquired a Satnav as I do a fair number of long car journeys on my own, making map-reading a problem. Not a great one to trust gadgets, I always have a good look at the map first, making sure I know roughly where I’m supposed to be going: I have no wish to be stranded half-way up a single track road with no turning point, or in a river, because the Satnav says there’s a ford there!

Recently my husband and I decided to go out for lunch to a farm shop with a restaurant we’d heard about. It is only about 12 miles from home but there are many narrow country lanes to get lost in, so I had a good look at the map, set ‘Emily’ (the voice of the Satnav) and off we went. She was determined to send me down all sorts of narrow ways, but I thought I knew best, so I stuck to the main road and turned off at the last minute. It was still much further than I thought and although Emily was urging me on, I stopped to ask at a farm. Emily was quite right of course, and on the way back, after a delicious meal, I meekly followed her instructions and she brought us home through some beautiful countryside we had never seen before.

I wonder how often we treat the voice of God in the same way? We think we know best and go our own way, ignoring the quiet but persistent voice in our ear, because it looks as though we might get lost in the ‘narrow lanes’. If we are following God’s instructions we will be quite safe, and He will be able to open up the plans He has for us.

Prayer: Dear Father, I know in my heart that You always know what is best for me, but still I choose to go my own way. Please forgive me and help me to listen for that ‘still, small voice’ of Yours, and to obey it. Amen.