As I sat on the Ohio Turnpike to drive back home Friday evening, there was construction going on and without warning the two lanes on my side of the expressway split into two. I was already driving in the left lane but as I proceeded to go that way I noticed ahead of me that there was more traffic in the left lane than there was in the right lane. I tried to get out of the left lane and veer over into the right lane so that I would not get stuck in traffic but it was too late, the orange and white traffic cones began to block me so I was unwillingly forced to stay in my lane. I sat in traffic for what seemed like about 20 minutes and I grew frustrated as I looked over to the right and watched all of the cars in that lane zip right past me. It appeared as though traffic in that lane was flowing so smoothly that all of the cars that made the decision to drive in that lane did not have to wait in standstill traffic like myself and the rest of the cars that were in the left lane.
After 20 minutes in standstill traffic passed, out of nowhere, my lane began to pick up in speed and traffic suddenly broke apart. The pace of traffic was finally flowing again in my lane and as it flowed all of the vehicles that I had seen pass by me earlier were now sitting in standstill traffic as I bypassed them. In the background of my car I remember hearing the song 1-2 (Victory Check) by Tye Tribbett playing and I laughed because it was in that very moment that I realized I knew exactly what God wanted me to write about this month.
After 20 minutes in standstill traffic passed, out of nowhere, my lane began to pick up in speed and traffic suddenly broke apart. The pace of traffic was finally flowing again in my lane and as it flowed all of the vehicles that I had seen pass by me earlier were now sitting in standstill traffic as I bypassed them. In the background of my car I remember hearing the song 1-2 (Victory Check) by Tye Tribbett playing and I laughed because it was in that very moment that I realized I knew exactly what God wanted me to write about this month.
Now that we are in the month of June gradually entering into the summertime in the U.S. I believe that God wants to send us a friendly reminder to stay in our lane. So many of us, like myself on the Ohio Turnpike this past weekend are so busy focusing on someone else's lane and the way traffic is flowing in their lane that we are failing to recognize that although it may not look like it, our lane, is actually moving at the exact pace that it should be moving for us to go where God wants to take us. This month, I encourage every reader to stop veering over into other people’s lane’s because of what you think you see in the earthly realm. Instead, stay in your lane and trust God keeping your eyes straight ahead and ignoring all sideshow distractions (Proverbs 4:25 MSG).
It is human nature for anyone who was like me sitting in standstill traffic and see’s the lane next to them flowing at a steady pace to either become frustrated or to think to yourself that you wish you could be in the other lane rather than your own lane. God has personally sent me to tell you that you need to shut those thoughts down this month. “Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants” (Romans 8:5 GNT).
I challenge you to “think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (Colossians 3:2 NLT) this month. I challenge you to cast down every sideshow that is trying to take you off of your square this month. When it looks like you are behind or others are excelling in areas where you want to see yourself excel in, I challenge you to trust in God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5 NLT) this month. You have victory and whether you see it or not I need you to believe it this month. We serve a God that has the power to take destitute situations and turn them around. We serve a God that has the power to take the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. We serve a God who has the power to intentionally choose the powerless to shame those who are powerful (1 Corinthians 1:27 NLT). There is nothing too hard for God to do for you so as you stay in your lane this month, remember that “you’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set (Psalm 119:1-3 MSG).
It is human nature for anyone who was like me sitting in standstill traffic and see’s the lane next to them flowing at a steady pace to either become frustrated or to think to yourself that you wish you could be in the other lane rather than your own lane. God has personally sent me to tell you that you need to shut those thoughts down this month. “Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants” (Romans 8:5 GNT).
I challenge you to “think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (Colossians 3:2 NLT) this month. I challenge you to cast down every sideshow that is trying to take you off of your square this month. When it looks like you are behind or others are excelling in areas where you want to see yourself excel in, I challenge you to trust in God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5 NLT) this month. You have victory and whether you see it or not I need you to believe it this month. We serve a God that has the power to take destitute situations and turn them around. We serve a God that has the power to take the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. We serve a God who has the power to intentionally choose the powerless to shame those who are powerful (1 Corinthians 1:27 NLT). There is nothing too hard for God to do for you so as you stay in your lane this month, remember that “you’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set (Psalm 119:1-3 MSG).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are wonderful. We adore you, we honor you, and we love you. Thank you for continuously blessing us, keeping us, and advancing us towards our purpose. As we enter into the month of June, we pray for the willpower to stay in our lane. Keep our heart, mind and eyes steady so that we remain on the course you have set before us never attempting to veer over into another lane because of what we see someone else doing, or how we see someone else progressing. Let your word be a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path (Psalms 119:105 NLT) as we solely rely on you to direct us. May you get the glory out of our lives through our obedience, through our faith, through our consistency, and through our focus. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Heavenly Father,
You are wonderful. We adore you, we honor you, and we love you. Thank you for continuously blessing us, keeping us, and advancing us towards our purpose. As we enter into the month of June, we pray for the willpower to stay in our lane. Keep our heart, mind and eyes steady so that we remain on the course you have set before us never attempting to veer over into another lane because of what we see someone else doing, or how we see someone else progressing. Let your word be a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path (Psalms 119:105 NLT) as we solely rely on you to direct us. May you get the glory out of our lives through our obedience, through our faith, through our consistency, and through our focus. In Jesus name we pray, amen.