God as Guide: the Perfect GPS

Our GPS is an excellent guide; she and I just don’t get along.  It’s not her fault.  We’re often out of sync with one another–or more accurately, I am out of sync with her.  She gives an order, and I obey—too soon and end up on a wrong road.  Or the street she insists on doesn’t fit my recall, so I ignore her—and end up on a wrong road.  She patiently and persistently redirects me.  Best of all:  my struggles with the GPS help me see my problems with a bigger and better guide:  God Himself.

Sometimes, I do the very same things to Him.  I run ahead—or overestimate my knowledge—and I get on a wrong road.  He patiently and persistently draws me back toward Him with grace and mercy!  I find that lots of folks in the Scriptures are like me, too.  The Israelites were a bit intimidated by God and told Moses, “You go get His instructions.  We’ll listen to you.”  When Moses returned with the Word of God, the Israelites were ready to go:  “We’re in.”  The next day they were on Whining Road…and God patiently and persistently redirected them just like he does you and me.

It is so easy to trust in something other than the Guide and Guard, God Himself.  We put faith in “going to church” or “reading our Bible.”  We put faith in teaching our kids the “right way.”  We put faith in our knowledge and practices–our “doctrine” and “rituals.”  Or like the rich young man in Scripture, we put our faith in riches.   None of these are worthy; they put us on the wrong road.  Our faith must be in the person of Jesus Christ, in God Himself.  We can trust Him to guide us far more than we can trust ourselves to follow!

Only when we fix our eyes on God as our Guide and Guard do our life journeys fulfill His good purposes.  His desire to lead us out of the captivity of our sinful nature to the freedom of living in Christ permeates Scripture.  From eternity past to eternity future, God’s goal is an intimate relationship with us. Seeking His guidance puts us on a pathway of fellowship with Him.  Surrounded by His presence, we enjoy Him as our Guide and our Guard.

God is a Guide and Guard who never sleeps; His eyes rest continually upon us.  In fact, the Psalmist says God guides us with His eye.  To know the direction He desires us to look, we need to seek His face and follow His eyes.  Sometimes His gaze will rest on us…on the things in us that obscure His glory.    There is no fear in that, though, because His eyes always look on us with love.  He always calls us to come closer and see Him better!

Choosing to seek God as our Guide and Guard means He travels with us.  He guides us into the transforming power of His truth and love!  He will guide us and guard us to the end.  Seeking God’s face and walking in His presence allows us to see our awesome God more clearly and makes us a window for others to glimpse Him as well.

How has the gaze of God guided you?  Where is He asking you to look with Him right now?