Steering Your Boat Safely

You make known to me the path of life. (Psalm 16:11)

Recently I was listening to a story where a group of people aboard a small rowing boat were navigating their way through the entrance to an island. Between them and the island lay a minefield of dangerous rocks with the waves crashing mercilessly upon them. An encounter with any of the rocks could have led to injury or death. However, the navigator being familiar with this island, knew every danger and had learned deftly how to avoid them and land themselves and their crew safely on shore.

​Life can be a bit like navigating precarious pathways through the sea. The sea of our lives is filled with rocks called temptation others called bitterness, jealousy, resentment, fear....the rocks are endless. They are waiting for us to crash into them and wreck our little boats. So how can we navigate safely through this pathway until we reach our final destination?

​The opening verses in the Book of  Proverbs can help us.

These are the proverbs of Solomon... Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. (Proverbs 1:1,3 NLT)

​As we read Proverbs and other books in the Bible, we learn how to sail wisely, in ways that will enable us to recognise the dangers lurking in our path, and to steer a course that keeps us sailing Godward.

Nicky Gumble of Alpha course fame said:

‘Wisdom is the art of steering through the battles and blessings of life and living skilfully in whatever conditions you find yourself.’

The Bible is the navigation chart that God has provided for us on our sometimes-dangerous voyage. It guides us as we seek to make right choices. Let’s make full use of this and other guideposts during 2021.

​Pauline