Have you ever been walking down the street, deep in thought, but oblivious to what was going on around you—that is until you snapped out of it and realized that you passed your destination two blocks ago? Your attention was elsewhere. Your mind wasn’t focused on where you were going, but on the random thoughts bouncing around in your head. The reality is this: what you give your attention to determines both your focus and direction. So if you’re not heading in the direction you want, what has got your attention?

Bottom Line: Divine direction begins with surrender.
Everyone makes stupid choices—even smart people. Why? Because we’ve all had moments when we know the right thing to do, we have the right information, and we ignore it. We know we should order the fruit cup, but we order the mega-size fries. We know we should not spend all our money on that one shirt, but we do it anyway. We know we should avoid that one relationship, but we just keep coming back because it’s comfortable. So there has to be something more to it than just knowing the right thing to do. It’s not just about knowing the right choice, it’s about actually taking that first step. It’s the difference between knowing the right choice and trusting that the choice will lead you to a better path. It’s the difference between information and submission.
Scripture References: 1 Kings 3:5, 10-14; Proverbs 3:5-7
Three questions this week.
1. What scares you about surrendering these things to God?
2. What might you gain by surrendering to God?
3. How can you start surrendering your everyday life to God? What are some steps you might take?

When we’re behind the wheel, most of us stop if we see a street sign that says “danger” or “dead end.” We put ourselves on alert if we see a “caution” sign. But when it comes to our daily lives and the choices we face, sometimes we ignore the warning signs completely. We trudge right through the “don’t say that” sign and deeply cut someone close to us with a wounding remark. We plow right through the “don’t date that girl” sign because we believe that having someone who’s not great for us is better than not having someone at all. The Bible warns us that when we see danger, we need to take action, because when we don’t, things can get really ugly.
Scripture References: Proverbs 27:12
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12 NIV).

You can’t get to the south beach by driving north, and you can’t get to the top of the mountain if you are walking down it. In the Road Signs series, we will examine the book of Proverbs for wisdom to help each of us navigate the choices life brings because our choices determine the direction of our lives. And it’s our direction, not our intention, that ultimately determines our destination. Where are you heading?