True North...

My coach and training buddy Jim recently purchased a Garvin portable GPS with all the bells and whistles (it was a father’s day gift). When we’re training he straps it to his wrist and it shows you where you are; guides you to where you want to go and then you can download the entire training session and workout information to your computer – incredible!

It’s cool alright, but wouldn’t it be really cool if we had something like this for our spiritual lives? What if we could get our hands on a spiritual GPS? One that would tell us where we are and then help us get where we want to go. Many of us don’t realize it but we can.

We have a “compass” if you will that keeps us on track and headed true north; if we let it.

You guessed right, it’s called the Bible. Sometimes, however, in the midst of the craziness we call busy we overlook that which is so close. In our hurried “searching for significance” lives we miss the most significant. It’s the human condition and it’s a quandary we’ve been wrestling with for generations.

Psalm 119:9-16 (the Message)

9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;
don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I'll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you've done it.
I relish everything you've told me of life,
I won't forget a word of it.

Questions:

1. Why do we overlook the incredible worth and immeasurable depth of God’s word?
2. In our search for significance why do we so often miss the obvious?
3. What or who is it that runs “interference” between us and listening to God?
4. Could it be that we have an adversary? Read Ephesians 6:11-17.
5. Are you ready to finally pause, take stock and start heading true north?

Okay, so stop, take a breath, sit on a park bench, paddle a kayak, run a trail, go to the lake, or find a place in the woods, climb a tree or hide under the bed and ask God for help. Do whatever it takes to stop and figure out how you can make the reading of God’s word a regular part of your life. I know it’s a struggle; hey, it’s not easy for me either.

Hmmm, if only I could wear it on my wrist. Now that would be really cool.

You'll have to take it from here, but I have a hunch you know what to do next (if you need a place to start you can read all of Psalm 119)...

Ron

Compassion Rules! Live your Life...