Did I Make a Wrong Turn?

I suppose it's common knowledge that men tend to wait until they are completely lost before asking for directions. If any of you men disagree with me, you might ask the woman in your life for her opinion on the matter. (Go with her answer) While asking for driving directions may tend to be a gender-specific issue, consider the matter of asking for spiritual directions. I would contend that both men and women tend to have a "go-it-alone" mentality when driving down the spiritual highway of life.

Here are two terms I will use to describe the situation: "Roadsigns" and "Billboards."

Roadsigns are intended to point you in the right direction. Without roadsigns, highway travel would be slightly more complicated. In a similar way, spiritual roadsigns are both intentionally placed and useful for finding directions. They are not as obvious as the Department of Transportation green and white signs, but at least as helpful in finding your way. So, where do you find them? The simple answer is relationships. We have to ask others for directions when we become lost. Hopefully, you have cultivated healthy relationships with others who are trustworthy and knowledgeable in spiritual matters. Seek out these relationships through prayer. Ask God to provide someone to lead you as you develop spiritually. Don't wait until you're lost. (Remember the guy who wouldn't stop to ask for directions? His wife and kids are still riding around in the car with him, wondering when he'll finally give in.)

Billboards, on the other hand, are like commercials along the open road. They are meant to steal our attention away from the course we have set: "Hungry? Exit now." "Tired? Stay at our hotel." and "Lonely? Bored? Depressed?..." The list goes on. The billboards along our spiritual highway are similar. They tell us: "Take a break, you deserve it." "Aren't you ready for something new and exciting?" and "There is something wrong with you." These don't sound like helpful directions. Instead they are hurtful distractions. These slogans are in our heads, and in our lives. They are distracting you from the thing that God is calling you to be: a member of his family, fully satisfied in his presence.

Read this story from Matthew 4:1-11 . Can you hear the distractions that the devil uses to get Jesus off track? The devil knew that Jesus was a man with a plan. Three times, the devil uses "billboards" to tempt Jesus to make a wrong turn. Though Jesus could not be shaken. He knew what the scriptures said about hunger, testing God, and worshipping false gods. Do you know what God's word says about your life? Do you wonder where you are heading? Are you a man with a plan? Are you big enough to ask for help? Begin by asking God.