This has been my mantra the past year and if you have had conversation with me lately I have given you the same advice, like it or not :)
It has been a hard lesson to learn and I still have to remind myself of it almost daily.
The gist of it is to keep focused on the path God has for me and don’t feel the need to help control the path of others. Mostly it’s with my family that I have to stay in my own lane.
As a mother this can be a constant struggle. We want to “help” the Holy Spirit because we know where we screwed up and want to protect our children from the same mistakes. We can give advice but then we have to stay in our lane and let them drive.
I have been thinking a lot about Psalm 119:105
"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
But let us go back further. In Numbers 8 God is giving instructions on setting up the tabernacle which is the place where the children of Israel would worship Him, so as you can imagine it was to be a very Holy place.
What stood out to me was the first few verses where He tells them how to set up the lamp stands:
Numbers 8:1-3 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ ” 3 And Aaron did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses.
The lamps were set up so the light would shine forward. Now you might be saying well DUH of course they shown forward so you could see what was in front of you and you would be right, but let me ask you something. How many times are you looking back at your past when the Holy Spirit is asking you to move forward? Why are you trying to shed light on something you can't change?
I did some research on the lamps people used in Bible times.
The lamp they carried in the days of Jesus only shown a few feet in front of them. I don’t know the exact amount but it was minimal. That’s why they totally understood the verse in Psalms. They wouldn’t dare travel outside at night because it was too dangerous. They couldn’t see anything including wild beast who may have had them as a main course, so the image of light on the path and a lamp for your feet made total sense.
They could move one step at a time as the light gave direction on the path. I hate to tell you this Gems but that is still how God wants us to move. He wants us to take one step at a time and wait for the Holy Spirit to give the next direction and most times even if we have an idea of where we are going the path to get there is uncertain.
The problem with us is we want a flood light that not only shows the step in front of us it shows the whole path!
This type of light requires little to no faith.
In Numbers 9 a question is brought to Moses from the people, it’s not about travelling but I love Moses response. This advice can be applied to any questions we have, especially travel.
Numbers 9:8 Moses answered, “Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the Lord.”
How many devouring things can we save ourselves from if we take one step at a time?
The Holy Spirit is very clear with directions if we are patient to wait on them. As always I’m writing this jewel for myself as well as you.
Not only will He tell us where to go He will get things set up before we get there.
When the Lord moved me to TN I had no idea where I was going or where I would live. I knew no one in TN and I had enough money to last about a week or so.
Step one, I prayed until I got the answer of where in TN to go, Franklin. When I asked the Lord for more light on my path the Holy Spirit answered with
Isaiah 30:21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left.
Gems I literally traveled that way and when I arrived in Franklin, my U haul packed with all my belongings, the Lord led the way step by step. I had no choice but to stay in my lane.
In Numbers 10 God instructs the Israelite's on how to move out when they were headed to their next destination. They were set up by clans with a leader and a banner over their head indicating who they were. Basically they were shown what lane to travel in.
God is such an orderly God that the clan that set up the tabernacle would arrive days before the Levites who were carrying the sacred objects for worship. When the Levites arrived the tabernacle was set up and they could begin worshiping the Lord.
If they would have changed lanes and left after the Gershonite and Merarite division there would have been an unneeded long wait before they could perform their duties.
How many times do we change lanes then complain that we are waiting too long for the next assignment. Don’t get me wrong at times the next assignment is to wait which is why we always have to go to the Holy Spirit and get instructions. Gems He really does allow things to move like clockwork, God’s clockwork of course.
As I have shared before, people worry that they may have to travel under the banner God has placed me with. I want to comfort you again by saying NO. You are allowed to stay in your lane and me in mine but again we cannot tell each other how to travel.
Numbers 10:29-30 One day Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are on our way to the place the Lord promised us, for he said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!”
30 But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.”
Now I want to be honest with you Gems there are times I tell God I’m tapping out, this journey is too hard for me. I don’t want the lamp I want the flood light! I have had days that I’m so overwhelmed I tell the Holy Spirit “it’s OK if you want to take me home, I’m ready.”
I found comfort in knowing Moses felt the same way.
Numbers 11:14 I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! 15 If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”
I totally get what Moses was feeling. The good news is God didn’t take him up on his offer instead He sent Moses help.
I can’t tell you how many times the Lord sends me help. Many of you reading this have been one of those people who pulled me up when I was not only changing lanes I was turning in the keys to my transportation.
I will end this jewel with an encouraging verse for all of us.
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
I can’t think of anything more exciting than to know I can please God!
Stay in your lane Gems and be a light for your path and a beacon for others.
Filled with His Spirit, each of us are beacons of light that show the way to a lost and
dying world.”
