I called my son, who was expecting me later in the day, and explained my predicament. He asked where I was and I confessed that I had no idea, but assured him that eventually I would find my way out. He said, “Too bad you didn’t think to rent a car with GPS.”

It was one of those ‘duh’ moments. My car did come with a portable GPS unit, but it was still in the glove compartment. I hadn’t even thought of it. I pulled over, plugged it in, entered the address I was looking for, and within a minute a friendly voice in the little box was directing me to the right place. I actually doubted the directions a couple of times, but it turns out that the GPS knew the way better than me. Eventually I heard the words, “Arriving at destination on left…”

It reminds me of what we so often do. We think we know how to get where we want to go, but get lost with our own dumb decisions. Then we get even more lost with even dumber decisions. All the time we have a place we can go for directions, but for some reason we neglect to look.

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8)

God has promised to guide us step by step through this journey, through our relationships and through our careers and through our finances and through our personal lives. He speaks to us through his Word and through the wisdom of spiritual leaders. Too often we neglect to listen, preferring to keep making wrong turns instead.

If you’re feeling a little lost in some areas of life, and the turns you take keeping leading you where you don’t want to be, stop for a moment today, and open your heart to his voice. Let his Word direct you to the next step you need to take. He will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

One rep is quick to speak up first. He says, “I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.” Poof! He’s gone.

The next rep speaks up. “I want to be fishing in a stream in the Colorado Rockies.” Poof! He’s gone.

The genie turns to the sales manager and says, “Your turn.” The manager says, “I want those two back in the office after lunch.”

It makes a difference who has the last word, doesn’t it? The question is: who, or what, will have the last word in your life today? Will your choices today be driven by ambition, revenge, or mere whim? Or will the Word of God have the final say?

Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell richly within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” (Colossians 3:16)

Do you know what he’s saying? He’s saying Let God’s word have the final word in your life — today, and everyday. — SM