Kids, Car Seats and Cop-Outs!

I was praying this morning, talking with God and confessing how I, too easily, end up pushing God off the throne of my life. As I asked God's forgiveness and continued to pray, a simple but profound picture came to my mind.

As I meditated, I thought how God's reign over my life is very similar to that of a pilot or driver who is in control of a passenger in their vehicle. In my mind, I was the passenger and God was the chauffeur! In a somewhat jovial, yet serious plea, I asked God if He wouldn't just "strap me in" so I wouldn't be able to MOVE (in His car)! Thinking this might be the only 'sure fire' way of keeping my hands off the wheel and allowing God to be in full control!

Being a nanny, as I prayed, I was picturing my 2 year old 'charge' strapped into his car seat in my mini-van! Daily, I carefully lift this little boy into his almost 'too small' car seat, arrange the straps over his shoulders (now covered with a bulky winter coat!), buckle the shoulder straps together and then fasten those upper straps to the bottom clasp that securely 'locks' this little guy safely into place. Of course, knowing it is the law and keeping my charge SAFE are the primary reasons for using a car seat, but keeping this busy 2.5 year old boy SECURE and unable to freely move around in the car while I'm driving is a huge benefit of a car seat!

As I meditated on the mental picture of this little boy sort of 'squished' in his car seat, the Holy Spirit immediately pointed out to me that being tightly 'buckled in' is NOT the way a follower of Christ is to live!

I then received a picture of a woman (me, I guess), sitting in the back seat of a limousine while being driven by a chauffeur. This female client was sitting freely in the back seat reading a newspaper without a care as to directions, traffic flow, parking spots, toll fees, gas gauge or any other incidental details that go along with driving a limousine! THAT, the Holy Spirit revealed, is what walking the Christian life looks like! FREEDOM to move! Every Believer has freedom to live, work, experience joy or sorrow, make choices and decisions and to love His way.....but we do it all while GOD IS IN CONTROL!

"Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" is a song I often sing as I drive.....today I received a visual lesson of this Truth!