Good morning! This morning as I get ready to go worship Jesus with my church family, I am thinking about how I love to offer praise and worship to my Creator! He is faithful and has never let me down – not that everything has always worked out the way I expected – but He has never left my side.
Yesterday while I was out on a bike ride with Josh, we ended up going to his school to ride in the parking lot. The only thing I don’t like about the route to get there is that no matter which way you go, you have to travel near or across main roads.
For myself, I am perfectly fine navigating and paying attention to the traffic around me; but for Josh, he is still learning. When we were riding, there were times when I would lead and other times where I would follow. There were times when I had to point out the mistakes he was making (for his own benefit) and other times I had to encourage him when he was doing the right thing to let him know it!
There were times when we had to walk our bikes across the road and others where we had to speed up to get through parts that had a smaller shoulder. There were times we would stop at a bench to rest – which really meant a time to just enjoy each others company and take a selfie together!
When we stopped at the bench at his school, we talked about how this is his last year there and next year will be a new adventure! I wanted to know how he was feeling about the transition he is going to walk through later this year.
When we stopped at the bench in the park, we talked about how the clock at the park was broken – but he learned that even a broken clock is right two times a day LOL! I love spending time with him – he is so much fun and our conversations are so real!
This reminds me a lot of the relationship I have with God. The Bike Ride is like the journey of life that we walk through. We have places we like to go and different choices along the way.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
Not one of our lives will ever look exactly the same. We all have different opportunities, desires, priorities, and goals, but there is only ONE way to eternal life – through Jesus Christ!
My role as a father to Josh is alot like the role that God wants to play in our lives. He is watching over us, protecting us, guiding us, and walking with us.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you”
Psalm 32:8
Life is best ventured when we take guidance from the people who have experience. Many of the things I learned as a child was from my parents; many of the things I learned at my job were from coworkers with tenure; and many things I learn about life is from family and friends who come around me that have gone through similar situations!
The ultimate guide is our Heavenly Father! There is nothing that He cannot help us with, protect us from, or lead us through! Josh’s role as the novice is a lot like our role when we allow God to be our God! Just like Josh was riding under my protection and guidance, when we commit to walking through the journey of life surrendered to Jesus, we will walk under His protection and guidance!
“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”
Proverbs 23:12
Josh had a choice to make (and so do we), would he allow me to lead, guide, and protect him, or would he choose to go his way? Will you choose today to surrender to God and allow Him to lead, guide, and protect you, or will you choose your own way?
Heavenly Father, thank You for being with us at all times! You love us more than we will ever be able to understand and You know what is best for each one of us! Thank You for your constant support and the way You gently lead us as we walk though this journey called life. Help us to yield to Your instructions and guidance and walk in Your protection! In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 