Where am I going?

A man's steps are of the Lord;

How then can a man understand his own way?

Proverbs 20:24

I have often asked the question of Christian people: Would you like for God to send a seven-foot angel with a telegram on the end of a flaming sword that will tell you everything about your life for the next 20 years? And I'm always surprised that there are actually people who will respond in the affirmative! As for me, I'm happy not knowing where I'm going to be, what I'm going to be doing, and who I'm going to be with this time next year. I live my life with a little insight into what I call "the next step", for which I believe God prepares all of us if we are sensitive to His leading.

The Proverbs are full of little statements like this about the sovereign power and order of our God. We plan, but it is God who directs. We try to live righteously, and God orders our steps. And I believe this--I don't have to have coffee and toast every morning with Jesus so that I can know what I need to do that day. There are plenty of things I have to do; lots of things I should do; and many more things that need doing. God gave us wisdom to prioritize our day; so let's prioritize--what must be done, what should be done; what needs to be done. And then add a fourth, what do I want to do? But what I want should always come after I have fulfilled the others, not before.

And when God wants to interrupt our schedule, we need to let Him. We need to listen to His voice, the guiding of the Spirit, and we need to obey. But I trust that God is the one ordering my steps, and I know I may never understand everything, so I don't even try. I simply trust the One Who Does.