God in Front
by Richard Griffiths
When Sue and I are taking a new walk over the moors, we often laugh at our different approaches to finding the right way. She looks ahead and sees the path while I, as she puts it, “have my head in the map”. I think that, in the end, we agree that we’re both right. I can go wrong, because I haven’t related what I see on the map to the landscape ahead; and she can be led astray by a little path that was made not by people, but by sheep. We need the map and what we see ahead if we’re not to get lost.
When we talk about ‘meditating’ we often mean rather vague thinking. But the Hebrew word for it here in Psalm 119 also means speaking – talking. In fact, for the Jews, meditation would normally be out loud. And that’s good because, if you’re going to say something, you have to have it clear in your mind. Nothing woolly here! God’s laws provide our map for our journey through life. If I’m going to find my way over the moor on a foggy day, I need to be clear about every detail on the map. And if I’m going to successfully navigate through today’s issues, I need to be clear about God’s precepts.
God has prepared the path for me to walk on. I might have my ‘head in the map’, but I also need to see the path. We often talk about God ‘going before us’, especially if there are challenging things in prospect. And He does. Sometimes, as we go on a new route over the hills, we see people ahead of us, and know that that’s where the path goes. As we really focus on the path where God’s going and, most of all, focus our attention on Him, we’ll find the way.
Sometimes, when we’ve been following what seemed to be the right path, I’ve begun to notice that where we’re walking doesn’t match the map anymore. We have to change direction. When we’re going the right way, the path will always match the map, and the map will always match the path. If it doesn’t, then we can be sure that we’re going the wrong way. Today, I want to make sure that the path I take is God’s path; that I’m going where He’s going, following Him and following the map, His word.
Prayer: Lord, I commit myself to going the right way today – Your way. Give me Your Holy Spirit so I may clearly, and rightly, understand Your word. Would You open the eyes of my heart to see the path You’ve put before me, and to see You, as You go ahead of me, today. Amen.
Richard Griffiths When Richard retired from full-time Anglican ministry in Chichester in 2009, he and his wife, Sue, moved to Northumberland. He joined the ministry team at Ellel Grange in 2011, where he and Sue regularly ministered at healing retreats. They are now helping on the "Explore" team. They greatly enjoy walking in the beautiful Northumberland countryside and along the coast. Richard loves seeing God bringing people into a strong personal relationship with Him as their Father and the healing that comes with it.
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