Switching Guides

Friends,

Have you ever switched approaches in the middle of something? 🤔

I have.  For example, I’ve switched from printed to video-based instructions in the middle of assembling something and found that I completed the task much faster.

Switching your approach can impact outcomes dramatically.  This truth extracted from real life is even more profound during spiritual growth journeys, but there’s a difficult reality we all must embrace.  Are you ready for it?

We really don’t know how to get to the next growth milestone better than God.

😱😱😱

OK.  Inhale.  Exhale.  

Let’s continue.  

We can’t, and I repeat can’t, know better than God.  He left this on record to remind us:

Has anyone told the Lord what he must do or given him advice? Did the Lord ask anyone to teach him wisdom and justice? Who gave him knowledge and understanding (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭13‬-‭14‬, CEV‬‬). 

Since we can’t surpass His knowledge, we should switch guides.  Yep.  That means we have to abort any self-directed ways and quickly pursue God’s way.  Here are two things you’ll need to do to switch guides efficiently:

✅ Spend time in introspection.  

That is, take a moment or many to look at yourself.  Here are some questions that are worth exploring while in introspection:

1. Why do I follow my own plan(s) instead of God’s?  
2. How has/have my plan(s) really worked?
3. What does this reveal about me?

✅ Start moving forward with implementation.  

Finding out where you are is only the start of the journey.  Real transformation happens as you move forward with God’s alternative.  Here are some ways to do so:

1. Find Scriptures that remind you God is the best guide.  Rewrite them as if they are speaking directly to you.
2. Daily, pray and ask God what His agenda for your day looks like.  Then, move forward with His plans.

Long story short, friends, I’ve been expounding on the advice King Solomon, also known as the wisest person who ever lived, shared many years ago:

With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow. Don't ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the Lord and stay away from evil. This will make you healthy, and you will feel strong ‭‭(Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬, CEV‬‬). 

I’ve started the conversation, now let’s finish it in the comments.  Have you found that God is the best guide?  Share testimonies of how letting Him lead has worked out for you in the comments below. 

I’ll be back with another blog post.  Until then, particularly if this post spoke deeply to you, check out the conversation that led to it here: [SHIFT] Podcast (S2, E16): His Ways are Better than Waze.

Switch guides and let God take great care of you while leading you from now to next.

Have an incredible day!

For the King and His Kingdom,

Reginald Hinton Jr.

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.