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Life is full of irony, isn’t it? I sometimes run from the very thing I need—or work toward the very thing that will destroy me. Many times in my life, when standing at a crossroads, I have surveyed the landscape, blind to the possibilities, and blundered ahead without a clue.
After many years of following my own whims and selfish desires, and never finding true fulfillment, I finally found a friend who would never let me down and who would reveal a life of meaning and truth. Instead of continuing to wander aimlessly on my self-destructive path, I found purpose and direction. It took me many wasted years to admit it, but I was hopelessly lost on my own. All that time I was searching for meaning in my life, Jesus was seeking to save me and the Spirit was working on my heart.
The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10
I have always been driven by feelings and emotion. Fear can blind me. Sadness can cripple me. Disappointment or bitterness can stop me dead in my tracks. I can limp along for a while before I stop to deal with what is motivating my actions. Yet, at times, joy can have me bounding ahead in great leaps, eager to see what is around the next turn. The answer is to listen to my inner voice, the Spirit in me.
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
Marked out—we cannot make progress on our journey unless we are guided. The Spirit will lead us if we learn to grow still long enough to listen. We don’t need to drag around all our emotional baggage with us—in fact, that emotional neediness inside us will only drag us down. We should do our best to break free of our sinful entanglements. We need to eliminate our hinderances and RUN! The path is marked out.
I am no longer as young and impulsive as I was when I lost my way on a regular basis. I have learned to listen, and to survey my surroundings with a keener eye. I don’t always chose correctly, but I ponder and pray, and eventually I hear that still small voice encouraging me in the right direction.
Even though I have made mistakes and been misguided in the past, I can move forward with no regrets when I have a relationship with Christ … no regrets.
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
To walk in the light, God’s Word will offer guidance and the Spirit will nudge us in the right direction if we quiet our minds and listen. What is determining the direction of your life?
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Colossians 3:16
The Journey 
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:38 pm
I too am often driven by my emotions. I need to throw off the emotions that hinder me, it would make me run quicker. Great post and good reminder!
October 4th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Great post. Some good points you dicuss in there.