Scriptures: “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
YEARS ago while learning to fly airplanes, I received instructions in dealing with the sneaky threat of vertigo. This condition can come upon a pilot suddenly, for no apparent cause, and bring dizziness and disorientation, with potentially fatal consequences.
After all these years, I remember what I was taught: "Get on gauges." The strategy is to quit looking outside the cockpit, to quit trusting eyesight and the sense of balance that vertigo has rendered untrustworthy. Instead, pilots focus on instruments inside the cockpit that indicate air speed, altitude, and wing and nose positions relative to the horizon. Concentrating on gauges, a pilot can maintain safe flight until the vertigo subsides.
Christians experience spiritual vertigo from time to time. Life's setbacks can deprive us of hope, challenge our faith, and make us susceptible to false teachings and worldly temptations. Sometimes, we lose our spiritual bearing for no apparent reason.
At those times, we need to “get on the gauges” of faith, to dedicate ourselves to prayer and reading scripture and to focus on God’s direction. The world has many ways to disorient us, but fixing our minds and hearts on God is the sure way to navigate safely.
Prayer Requests:
Those who are so busy in life that they do not have time to sit down and take a long different look at where their lives are taking them.
Prayer:
When we lose our balance, Lord, draw us into the truth of Your Word and the safety of Your grace. Amen!
(From The Upper Room On-line Daily Devotion, July 18, 2007 – Written by Bob Tippee of Texas)
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