For those of you who know me and my sister, you will be well aware of our appalling sense of direction and total inability to navigate using a map. When planning our road trip to Scotland, many joked they would be receiving a postcard from Cornwall - they knew only too well our limitations in this area!
I am pleased to report that we only had a few very minor detours. My memorable ‘long way round’ was having travelled way too far South on the M6 (and missed the exit to the Lake District) we navigated a roundabout to redeem ourselves. When faced with the choice of the A66 East (2nd exit) or A66 West (4th exit) in my stubborn impatience I raced off at the 3rd exit…..…….. back onto the M6 !!!!!!!
My sister had tears of laughter in her eyes but it took a few hours and a few more miles before I could see the funny side. Our saving grace on the road trip were our ‘magic ears’, we both had phones with GPS maps and headphones under our helmets, which enabled us to enter our current location and destination. The app would talk us through the route - in some locations the signal dropped out or stuck, but on the whole they were a God-send for directionally-challenged folk like us.
The wonderful news is when we tune into God’s wavelength he gives us direction:
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 [NIV]
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 [NIV]
God loves us just the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way.
There are often areas in our lives that hinder us from moving forward and enjoying the fullness of life God has for us, you may identify with some: Fear, Anger, Abuse, Procrastination, Anxiety, Grief, Insecurities, Unforgiveness, Compulsive Shopping/Eating/Drugs/Drink addictions, Lust, Unworthiness (feelings of not being good enough) Lying, Perfectionism and many more... they keep us chained like slaves.
John Newton, writer of Amazing Grace, knew much about slavery. He gave his life to Christ and spent the rest of his days scratching his head in disbelief over the change. When he was 82, he said, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great saviour.”
God’s Amazing Grace allows U-Turns, if you have lost your way or need to move forward from things that hold you back, or if you have not rested much in his presence lately, many signs I saw in Scotland echo God’s desire, He implores us to ‘Haste Ye Back.’ It just means ‘Come back soon.’
Dawn Milward
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