Learning to Adjust Our Sails

Have you ever penned goals to your heart? Privately talking to Jesus about them, and whispering questions, asking for confirmation? Asking for blessing?

Have you ever started towards them and realized you needed to recalibrate?
Maybe your motives…maybe your heart.

Sometimes…we simply need to adjust our sails.

We’ve all stepped out into new territory to chase or plod towards something wonderful. We make a plan and execute. But often, things out of our control get in our way, causing us to lose ours.

After fighting feelings of defeat and confusion, we have to make some decisions.

Think of boat captains and how they chart their course from point A to Point B. After firing up the engines, they don’t place the ship on autopilot and leave the wheelhouse unattended. They watch closely.

To keep the boat safe, they watch obstacles in the water and the weather above.

Knowing when to adjust the sails on their vessel so they can reach their destination safely, makes them good leaders.

Strong women of faith in the Bible like Ruth, Esther, Rahab and Mary, were headed one way with their lives, before having to pivot, all in the name of staying in God’s plan.

Launching into something new, only to find that it is not going to turn out as we think, does not equate to failing or falling.

We learn as we go, and that is how we grow.

The Bible talks about stumbling, getting back up, and transforming our thinking. This is spiritual growth. This is how we learn.

If having faith in Christ means believing He has our best interest in mind, then sensing a nudge from Him to shift, should be a welcome gesture, not an indicator that we have done something wrong.

If you are beginning to question your New Year Resolutions, ask the Lord if you need to adjust your sails or stay the course.

Lord,
Help us sense your leading, directing, and REdirecting. Help us to learn through all of it, as you make us look more like you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
Proverbs 16:9