Rebekah McCloud
One day Momma and I were taking a leisurely drive. Along the way, we got behind a slow moving driver. Momma was not pleased. “Becky, blow the horn. I bet that’s some old coot up there licking on an ice cream cone. Blow the horn.” I assured my 90+ year old Momma that I was in no hurry and there was no need to blow the horn.
After a few minutes, Momma grew impatient and to my surprise, she leaned over and blew the horn. I said, “Momma, if there’s any horn blowing to do, the driver is supposed to do it.” She looked at me, smiled, and said, “You weren’t going to do it. That’s why I did. Becky, sometimes you need a co-pilot.”
Years ago, there was a bumper sticker going around that said, “God is my co-pilot.” Think about that for a minute. If God is the co-pilot, who is the pilot? In my case, that means I am the pilot. That is a frightening thought. Without the leading of the Lord, I would definitely be in the ditch with the others led by the blind leaders referred to in Matthew 15: 14-16.
I need God’s leading. I need him to be the pilot of my life. Without him, where would I be? Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord and lean not to our own understanding. In Psalm 32:8 God assures us, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.”
I believe we all have a predestined path, one that God designed for us before we were in our mother’s womb. Sometimes, in our ultimate wisdom we allow our will to override the leading of God. We become the pilot of our lives. Proverbs 16:9 says, “we can make our own plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
Proverbs 4:26 warns, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” The keywords in this passage are careful and steadfast. The dictionary says careful means “making sure of avoiding potential danger, mishap, or harm; cautious.” Steadfast means, “resolutely, dutifull, firm, and unwavering”
In the Bible, there are a number of people who were careful. Joseph & Mary were careful to obey God’s directions about preparing for the birth of the Christ child. Moses was steadfast in following God’s leading to rescue the Israelites. None of them needed a co-pilot, they needed the Almighty.
Deuteronmy 31:8 says the Lord goes before us and prepares the way. He did it for Joseph and Mary and Moses. He will do it for us. Romans 8:14 reminds us, “those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God.”
I want to be led by God. I want him to be the pilot. I do not even want to be the co-pilot. The prefix “co” assumes we are equal in this thing. We are not. He is the potter, I am the clay. I am determined to remain steadfast, focused, fearless, and fierce. I will be careful to hear God’s voice, not to lean to my own understanding, and not to come to my own conclusions or solutions. God does not need my help. I need his. I will occupy the passenger seat. He is the pilot and I have been immensely blessed because of it.