Anytime I travel somewhere, I notice whether the roads are new, renewed, or in need of repairing.
If I am in a vehicle that has bad shocks and I am on a bad road, well, it can be an unpleasant experience. But set me on a well-maintained or new road with a well-maintained car and the trip might be pretty smooth. Of course, weather plays a role. On our recent trip we traveled through fog, rain, sleet, snow, and icy conditions. We also watched cars swerve, travel too fast or too slow, and many drivers just not paying attention. I am often doing more than simply driving when I am in the car; sometimes I am snacking or singing or even just thinking. When I think about it, there are so many factors that play into a safe and enjoyable road trip. Some of those factors have little to do with me while others are definitely in my control.
- Do I do regular maintenance on my vehicle?
- Do I know where I am headed?
- Do I have my travel plans mapped out?
- Am I prepared for weather challenges?
- Have I factored in other delays?
- Do I have resources for an emergency?
- Do I have enough fuel (for both me and the vehicle) for the trip?
- Am I rested?
I can feel I am as prepared as I can be but there are always outside factors that can make an impact. Put a well-maintained vehicle on a terrible road and in bad weather conditions and it is still going to be an unpleasant trip.
But if I can remain calm and steady, it definitely helps.
Life seems like that too.
The outside conditions can change – and do – frequently. What I have control of is my response and an accurate sense of my own “condition”.
- Am I rooted in God’s Word?
- Am I grounded in God’s spiritual truths?
- Am I aware of His love for me (and others)?
- Have I watched Him give me His grace and His perspective on difficult things I have experienced previously?
- Do I adjust my course when I see myself headed down a dangerous path filled with temptations to sin?
As I was reading Ephesians 3 today, this was one of the verses stood out for me:
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17a
When God’s Spirit is strengthening my inner being, I can deal with quite a bit of junk. How I respond to circumstances can be evidence for His work on my inner being. I can definitely tell where I am rooted by the way I respond to circumstances.
Have you had your own response to a situation that was evidence of God’s work on your inner being?
When I have a response that defies human understanding, I know it is God working on my heart because apart from him, I cannot do it!
On the Road,
Liz
prayerpointsbyliz 