“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
My wife, Valerie, and I have some personal friends whose son is an advanced pilot now at the ripe ole age of 21. He is an outstanding pilot, now beginning his occupational career in flight aviation. However, at the beginning of his training, he was a young 15 year old flight student with a certified flight instructor by his side. He began flying over familiar terrain, in perfect weather conditions, in a small single engine aircraft. All his decisions were generally based on “VFR” (visual flight reference).After years of training and advancing to a multi-engine aircraft, he received his “Instrument Rating” certification. Now he flies solo, over unfamiliar terrain, cross country, state to state and in total darkness. He’s learned to not only trust his sight, but most importantly the instruments: his compass, altimeter, air speed indicator and radar. He has learned to “fly blind.” Just as a flight instructor’s ultimate goal is to see their student receive their instrument rating certification, so the father in the book of Proverbs had the same goal for his son.So what is the “spiritual” equivalent of an instrument rating? It is trusting in the Lord, not in your own understanding or by your own sight. Every parent, teacher, and leader knows their student or child will one day encounter hard times, darkness, storms, and unfamiliar terrain in life. The key to their graduation and promotion is learning to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)!“Flying blind” in life doesn’t mean closing your eyes to what’s happening around you; it does mean keeping them wide open and fixed on the Lord daily. There will be rough times in life. It’s not a matter of if, but when. Ups and downs. Challenges. Tragedies. Bumpy roads. Setbacks. However, trust your instruments (Gods’ Word) and your Master instructor (Jesus). Do not lean and rely on your own understanding, sight or strength. That is a recipe for sure disaster! Keep your eyes fixed on the Lord and walk towards Him, every single day.Surrender your will and allow God to take control of the “Yoke” and “Rudder” of your life. And above all else, trust your “Instructor ” and your “Instruments.”You’ll be glad you did.Be Worth Being,KevinSUBSCRIBE TO "OVER THE HUMP" DEVOTIONALKevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 39 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.
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