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Drive My Car from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Today I want to tell you a story about how I felt when I let someone drive our car for the first time. One year we visited some family members for Christmas, and then all of us traveled together to a tournament in Las Vegas. Since Sylvia and I had brought an SUV along that was big enough for all of us, we decided to ride together. They had made the trip so many times before, and even lived there for a while, so they suggested that they should drive. It sounded reasonable enough to me, so I gave them the keys and Sylvia and I climbed in the back.

Thirty minutes later while cruising on mountain roads at speeds over 100 miles an hour and weaving in and out of traffic as if someone were dying, the big SUV rolled to starboard and port like a sailboat in a storm, and I regretted that decision with every fiber of my being. To say that I was nervous would be a huge understatement. I drive all the time, I love driving. In fact I had just driven us from South Carolina to Southern California. To relinquish control and trust someone else to make the right decisions for me was difficult and scary.

When you sincerely give your heart to Jesus and ask Him to be the Lord of your life, then He will begin to do just that. It may get scary, but you asked Him to be the Lord of your life, the Driver, the Man with the plan, the One in charge. When you are not used to someone else driving, it can be a white knuckled experience. In the past, we made our decisions, but now suddenly decisions are being made for us. He begins to take us down roads that are unfamiliar, and through circumstances that we would rather avoid.

Think of the Apostle Paul. For years he felt that he was in control of his life. As a young pharisee, he went where he wanted and he did as he pleased. He was zealously religious and worked for the high priest to arrest Christians for a season. Then he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and his life changed. Paul was no longer at the wheel, for Jesus began to drive. Let’s take a closer look:

“They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:6-10 NASB).

We can see that the Holy Spirit was directing Paul, blocking him from going to some cities while urging him to visit others. The Lord was behind the scenes bringing everything, and everyone into place, like a general on the battlefield. He only told Paul what was needed to get him to where he needed to be. In the same way, we don’t get to understand everything that is happening today, we are told enough to get us to where we need to be.

Remember Paul’s trip to the Isle of Malta in Acts 28? All that Paul had to do was board the ship then suddenly a storm overtook them and blew them across the sea for 14 days. The Lord told Paul to not let anyone leave the ship for they would soon run aground on an island. Once it did, Paul swam ashore and told them about Jesus. That made a huge impact on the Island and Malta is said to be 98% Christian today. The wind blew Paul to where he needed to be, and it was God who controlled the wind.

God takes full responsibility for the life that is dedicated to Him, so don’t get scared when the ride gets a little bumpy. When the job that you planned to retire from is gone, it’s ok because something new is coming. I wouldn’t be here today if I had not first lost a job. When an unexpected bill comes, don’t begin to worry, for an unexpected blessing will come to cover it. Learn to pray about your needs and to trust Him. One thing about Jesus is that He is a really good driver.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me today and help me to align with Your will. You know all things, but I only know the past, so I choose to trust You. Share some of Your wisdom with me and help me to be at the right place, at the right time, with the right things to say. I invite You to come and be a part of my life today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.