I recently had the incredible opportunity to go sailing with some dear friends in San Diego. We spent the afternoon on Terry and Connie’s 30-foot sailboat on an exquisite Southern California day. Beautiful sunshine, perfect temperatures, and ample wind moved us along at a spirited clip.
Sea lions, pelicans and blue skies greeted us as we cut a path effortlessly through the salty paradise. We ventured about five miles out into the ocean before the angle of the sun told us it was time to head back in (real sailors don’t wear a watch). Terry pointed to a red roof in the distance, which was the locator for our docking area.
As we entered the cove we seemed to be moving closer and closer to the right side levee (big rocks). When Connie would turn the wheel in an attempt to correct our course, the sails would begin to “luff”—flap uselessly in the wind. It was obvious we were not going to be able to sail all the way to the dock on our current path. Terry looked at Connie and told her it was time to “tack”—a term meaning to “come about” into the wind.
Although we had done this several times throughout the day, this time when Terry gave the command, Connie’s turn was not just to the left. It was such a drastic turn that we were actually going back diagonally the direction we had come from. With only a little bit of sarcasm, I mentioned to Terry that the “red roof” was now almost behind us. Terry then made a comment I will never forget.
He said, “You have to trust me. You can’t see it, but I can. There is wind on the other shoreline. Sometimes we have to make a deviation that you might think is wrong in order to eventually be able to turn and go the desired direction. We need that wind!”
Just before it seemed we would run into the bank on the opposite shore (where there were no docks), the two of them, working together, executed a hard right turn. As the boat began to run parallel with the shoreline, the sails snapped open and exploded full of wind. We literally flew through the water—safely arriving at our original “red roof” goal in just a few minutes.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Have you ever been at a place in your life where it seemed like you knew the plans and dreams that God had for you, and now they have seemingly been forgotten, ignored, shattered? The “red roof” that was once the goal line is now behind you and fading into the distance. It is in these times that you must trust your Captain—with all of your heart. Don’t depend on your own understanding about the right direction to go. Press into His presence. Listen to His voice. Trust that His hand is manning the wheel. Let go—relax—and let Him be God (since He is anyway). He just might see what you don’t see: new wind—wind that will accelerate your destiny; wind that will restore what the locust has eaten; wind that is on a totally different shoreline than you expected.
This week, if you feel that God has “tacked” your little boat in the wrong direction, hang on. On the other shore there is wind that He sees. And just before you think you will crash into the rocks, He will make a turn and your sails will explode with the new, fresh wind you need. You will fly along toward your “red roof” and realize your dream sooner than you ever imagined. I promise.
PRAYER POWER FOR THE WEEK OF 1/28/2013
This week thank the Lord that He is the captain of your ship, knows exactly where He’s leading you and how to get you there safely. Know that He is totally trustworthy and that you are safe in His hands. Search for and declare scriptures that confirm that over your life. Rely on His promises and spend time praising Him for His faithfulness. Continue to pray for Israel and the persecuted church. Lift up our nation and its leaders as they tackle our economic and security issues. Pray for a spirit of repentance and revival to penetrate our churches and have a national and global impact. Pray that God send more laborers into His harvest field. Prov. 3:5-6; 1 Tim 2:1-5; James 5:16-18
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