Driver's Seat

You remember, being a kid and when you were going on a ride with your parents, one of your siblings always shouted out, "I call shotgun!"

I usually wasn't the quickest one. (It took me awhile to catch on to the rules of Shotgun.)

But as I was reading my Bible the other day, I came across this verse: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD and depart from evil." Proverbs 3:5-7

It is a common verse, I know. But this verse is one of my favorites and as I meditated on it throughout the day, I decided to put it into my new category of verses that I am going to call Shotgun Verses. These are verses that remind me that through this life, I want shotgun!

I understand this thought goes contrary to what the world and what society teaches but I want God in the driver's seat....not me. I want Him to be in control. When storms come down the road, I'd rather be able to trust in Him to get me through safely (and He does...every. single. time.) I know that if I were in the driver's seat of my own life, if I were the one calling all the shots, setting the speed and deciding which turns to take, I would mess it up and who knows where I'd end up. I know I would for sure be lost and would probably be too proud to ask for directions.

But when God is behind the wheel, I can relax. First of all, it reminds me that I am not alone.
"Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be ye content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

That's right. He promises in His word that He is and always will be there. I don't have to travel this road alone. I can be content and know that He is always there, right beside me.

Secondly, I can trust that we are going in the right direction.
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12
As humans, we think we know what is best for us, we think we know which way is right, which road to take and which direction to follow after but those ways only seem right to us. We ought to trust the navigation to the One who hold tomorrow and can see the road ahead, filled with obstacles, pot holes, pain, despair, joys and triumphs.
"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness and honour." Proverbs 21:21
Follow His ways, and indescribable blessings will abound.

Thirdly, I can trust that when He is driving, all of life's major milestones will come to pass when He knows I am ready for them. "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him..." Psalm 37:7
Along the road, there are intersections, red lights, stop signs and dead ends but I can put my trust in Him to guide and direct me in the way He would have me to go. I can hop in the passenger seat and just go along for the ride. I can let Him worry about the weather conditions, I can let Him worry about the other drivers on the road, I can let Him choose the directions and the stops along the road.

"In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in thy righteousness." Psalm 31:1

He is good driver. A great driver. The best driver I know. He protects me, loves me and guides me. I call shotgun and when I get to Heaven, I know that with Him as my driver, He will "deliver me in thy righteouesness."