Wouldn't it be nice to have an autopilot?

Avionics is a combination of the words - aviation and electronics. Avionics are the flight control systems that are installed in an aircraft or spacecraft that includes weather radar, surveillance radar, navigation, engine control, communications, and other systems that carry out hundreds of flight management tasks. While you may not be familiar with the term avionics, you have probably heard the term autopilot. The autopilot is the part of the avionics that takes all the data and keeps the plane on course to its desired destination. The autopilot will make hundreds of adjustments every hour to keep the plane on course. 

Wouldn’t it be great if we had an autopilot that would help us in following Jesus? Well, I have good news. We do! The two major components that God has given us to live daily for him are God’s Word and his Holy Spirit. 

We know that God’s Word is powerful. Psalm 119 reminds us that God’s Word protects from sin, lights our path, and guides us so that we can overcome evil.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:89 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:116 Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.

If we hide God’s word in our heart, it will keep us from sin that might throw us off course. God’s Word will provide us with light to see where we are headed and guides our steps. 

When we couple the guidance of God’s Word with the work of the Holy Spirt, it creates an effective guidance system in us that will help us walk with Jesus daily.  John 14-17 shows us the important work of the Spirit.

John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.

The Spirit guides us to truth and convicts us of sin. He also teaches us and reminds us of what we have learned. God has put his Spirit in us to help us live for him. 

            Our work is to continually be in God’s Word and let it direct our steps. When we obey God’s Word, that allows the Holy Spirit to work in us and guide us. When I am in God’s Word and obedient to what I read, it seems like the Spirit is directing every step.

  

One Word - Adjust

A few years ago, a mentor of mine, Alan Ahlgrim, suggested a little book called One Word by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page. The book is about choosing one word to center your life on for a year. You can use that word to help you create clarity and life-change for a year. It is easy to forget your New Year's resolutions, but a single word can guide you to a better life. Over the years, some of my words have been focus, slow down, reflect, etc.

As I am beginning 2022, my word for this year is adjust. I know this will be a year where I will have to adjust in many different ways because I am retiring from the pressures of leading a church and looking for new ways to serve King Jesus. Adjustments will come as we move to a new home in LaGrange, Georgia, to be near family, grandchildren, and the airport so we can visit my daughter and her family in San Francisco. This is the year that I will really test out this little motto “life is adjustable” in a big way.

As I thought about that word adjust, I was reminded of chapter eight in Experiencing God. The title of this chapter is “Adjusting Your Life To God”. Henry Blackaby says, “We adjust our lives to God so He can do through us what He wants to do. God is not our servant to make adjustments to our plans. We are His servants, and we adjust our lives to what He is about to do.” In this season of life, I am excited to see what God is doing so that I can adjust my life and join him.