Red Light Blunders

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

Have you ever done something so stupid that it didn’t even make sense to yourself?  Did you want to go back and apologize to everyone who was along the way of that stupid decision?   Well, I had a moment of stupidity just the other day.  I was driving to pick my husband up from the airport and I made a human blunder, an error, a downright moment of stupidity.  I was simply enjoying my time with the Lord.  Some great Christian music playing in the background and thinking about all the Lord has been doing in my life.  I was talking to God and sharing my thoughts with Him.  I was so caught up in the moment that I slipped through a red light.  Now, a quick disclaimer for my family (this is the first and hopefully the last time).

I was in the turning lane and the light was green.  I was flowing with traffic, as my heart continued to talk to the Lord.  Then all of a sudden I noticed the lane in the opposite direction was starting to come my way, so I looked at the light.  IT WAS RED!  My goodness, what I had I done?  There was nothing I could do, but make the turn and keep going.  Thankfully, the other drivers were aware of my decision and had not gone on their green light.  Yet, this had got me to thinking.  I was clearly in the wrong.  There were so many consequences I deserved to pay for going through the red light.  At the very least, I deserved someone honking at me and I didn’t even get that.  A cop never pulled me over to give me a ticket.  I didn’t get into accident.  Nothing!  God’s grace saved me from my stupidity once again.

How many times do we go through red lights in our lives?  How many times do we see them and keep on going even though the consequences will be there right around the corner?

BE STILL

This is the red light…

Stop for a little while.  You don’t always have to be going and you don’t always have to be fixing things.  In fact, you don’t have to be the one involved in every program at church.  Sometimes God calls you to a place of stillness to find out where He wants us to go next.  Psalm 46 does not begin this way, so let’s start back at the beginning of the Psalm.  How did the writer get to this red light?

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

The writer is battling some pretty real feelings.  He finds refuge and strength in God, even in the midst of troubled times.  We need to do the same.  We cannot fear what life will bring because God will be faithful.  Yes, the earth does not promise that it will be here for eternity.  God promises a new heaven.  A place where we will spend eternity.  We can only put our hope and trust in God.  The war that goes on inside of us is real.  We want so badly to make righteous decisions for the Lord, but sometimes this means saying I don’t know the answer God.  I’m not sure how to figure this one out.  Can you help me?  Will you provide a way to get through this storm and this battle of life?   These are the yellow light moments.  Those moments in time where it feels like life is at a stand still.  Will anything change?  Is this how it’s gonna be forever?  I promise you it won’t be like this forever!  God has many things in store for His beloved.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

While sitting at the red light, you can choose to use your time wisely.  Study who God is through His Word.  Spend time with Him in prayer and worship.  Learn about His character.  Let Him teach you His desires for your life.  May you learn what He would like your life to become.  The next time you see a red flag or red light, think about what the consequences on the other side of it would be like.  Don’t blaze through it and think you’re going to make a trail for someone else to follow.  What kind of legacy are you leaving, if you are not following the green lights that God opens up for you in His time?  Don’t you want to leave a Godly legacy?  I sure do!  I get tired of doing stupid things!  And I can claim that I do them often.  But I’m so glad that God’s grace covers over my stupidity and that He is teaching me daily to walk more like Him.  It’s in sitting at each red light that I am learning patience, self-control, meekness, true joy, true love, all the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22).

I want to live to see God exalted among the nations and in all the earth.  And even more than that, I want to see God exalted in the life that I live.  The challenge for this week to you is to find moments to BE STILL before God!  If you have passed a red light, it’s not too late.  Stop now and ask God to forgive you.  Ask Him how to make things right!  Take the time to walk in the steps He would have you walk.  Who will determine your steps from this day forward?

“A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15)

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

“A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24)

Dear Father God, May I pay attention to the red lights in my life.  You be the One to guide my steps daily.  I choose to surrender my desires to You, as my one true desire is to follow You.  May I live in the fullness of who You are.  Please forgive me for my daily blunders and thank for covering them with Your grace.  I do pray that I will change for the better, as I daily look to become more like You.

May I Be One Blunder Shorter Today and One Step Closer to You,