Thought for 10 August

Proverbs 20:24

"A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own

way?”

It’s comforting to hear that even Albert Einstein had a brain cramp now and then.

One time, for instance,

he was taking a train to an out-of-town engagement. The conductor stopped by to punch his ticket, but the great scientist preoccupied with his work, explained that he couldn’t find his ticket. Not in the coat pockets, not in the briefcase.

The conductor said, "We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I’m sure you bought ticket. Don’t worry about it."

As the conductor moved along, he looked back to see Einstein on his hands and knees searching under the seats for his ticket. The conductor walked back, "Dr. Einstein, please, don’t worry about it. I know who you are."

Exasperated, Einstein looked up and said, "I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going."

For those moments when you’re not sure where you are going, remember that God does.

We all have moments (or even days) when we don’t know where we are going. When I read this passage in ‘Sermon Central’ it kind of resonated with me because many times I have reached a place in my life when I feel lost but instead of looking to God for an answer I start fretting and trying to solve problems myself. I spend so much time trying to see what I am missing that I don’t see the answer that God has set before me.

All I know is that I cannot see a way out of the corner I have driven myself into and I find myself not able to sleep or rest. Even eating, my favourite pastime, doesn’t have the same pleasure.

Not until I have butted heads with our Father a few times do I realise that He has set my path and the problem is one of the obstacles I must refer to Him.

This life is not meant to be free of problems but God expects us to realise that our problems should be taken to Him for solutions. If we try to solve them ourselves we are inferring that we can do things better than He can. Well I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m sure that you are, like me, absolutely aware that I am very much not better than God and that without Him we would not survive this life.

God is infinitely beyond anything we can ever be and should be forever worshipped and praised for His greatness and faithfulness toward us. We must test His patience so often but His patience far exceeds our failings.

God knows our faults and flaws and still He would send His Son to free us from the snares of the evil one. We are so privileged to be loved unconditionally by The Almighty God, Creator and maker of us all.

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank You for Your great love. You set out paths before us and even when we try to go our own way You gently guide us back to Your way. May we always be aware of Your presence on our path, lighting our way to You and eternal life through Your Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.