"Keeping On Track"

By: Zach Wood

Proverbs 3:6 (The Message)

Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.

 

 

Keeping on track was something I constantly struggled with during childhood.  I was a hyper-active child.  I had wonderful and responsible adults to look up to and heed advice from, however, I seemed to find myself constantly going off-track from what I was told to do often.  Hey, what child doesn't go off-track here and there, right?  It's part of growing up.  I find myself, even as an adult, struggling to keep on track.  I'm so thankful to have a loving wife who encourages me to focus.  She is really good at reminding me to keep on task.  I tend to get distracted very easily and she gently nudges me with verbal advice to stay focused.  I really appreciate her effort and I'm sure it's difficult for her to try to keep me on task at times.    

 

A few weeks ago, I heard a sermon with this passage version of Proverbs from The Message.  I've read verse 6 so many times, but not in this way before.  I'm not an avid reader of The Message translation, but this specific one really caught my attention.  Listening seems to be one of the hardest things for us to do as Christians.  With all the distractions around us each day, it's hard for us to keep on track.  We find it hard to keep on track with the daily work we have to complete.  We find it hard to follow all the conversations we have with others through the day.  It's hard to concentrate on phone calls we make and e-mails that we send out.  We try to concentrate, but there's always something that comes up to interrupt us or distract us.  This is just part of life.  However, we must learn to keep ourselves focused and on-task.  It's not easy to do, but possible!  

 

If we made a conscious effort to listen to God's voice in everything we do, we could concentrate a whole lot more.  When we're listening to Him, He directs our paths and gives us wisdom.  Parents, adults, bosses, and teachers can exercise authority over us, but God is ultimately the One who keeps us on track with life.  He is the supreme source of wisdom and direction.  

 

In order for us to keep on track and stay focused, we must listen to God's voice.  I know for me, it's a hard discipline for me to attain.  I'm an on the go person and I find it hard to take time to listen for God's voice.  However, He desires for us to seek Him and listen for Him in the midst of even our craziest days.  

 

Maybe we should take some good amount of time in the next week or so and practice listening for His voice.  God wants to talk with us, commune with us and give us guidance and wisdom.  But, we must be willing to open our eyes, hearts and ears to what He has to say to us.  To keep on track, we must listen to Him, read His Word, pray, and allow Him to direct our paths.  Are we listening to Him?