Turn your back, stay on the map.

Have you ever drawn a life map?

The basics to life-mapping are this: write down 5 goals for the next 10-15 years of your life. It could be anything from getting married, having a baby, going on a mission trip, writing a book…anything that is a deep desire of your heart.

Then, take a blank sheet of paper and draw [can get as fancy as you’d like] a picture of yourself of the place you are at in life today.

Next, draw an arrow connecting you to the next goal of your life. Draw a little picture of yourself doing that next thing…continue this pattern in a circle until you have gotten through all five goals.

Example:
I know, you’d like to hire me to do a mural at your house…I just don’t know if I can squeeze it in. [smile]

You get the idea.

The other day, I was in Psalm 1 and God began to reveal a truth about life- mapping. It can be very beneficial for us to put our dreams and goals on paper. But one of the things I began to notice is not included in life-mapping are the detours we will face to get to the next goal.

I believe sin can be the greatest detour.

While perfection is not attainable, and grace will always be the umbrella we live under, sin will try to push us off the map.

I have been there.

In the next few words, I want to introduce you to something that is helping me strategically line up my efforts to stay on the map:

The Walk, Stand, Sit Principle.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is on the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” -Psalm 1:1-2

Truth from these verses: It is going to cost you something to become the person you want to be.

These next three things are the basic truth’s to this concept.

1. When I walk by, I can still get away.

When we decide we want to do things God’s way, we can’t lock ourselves up in a bubble where we will will never be tempted to do anything wrong. Each day we will pass by situations that try to seduce us into them.

It could be anything from a friend that gossips, to an add on TV.

This can’t be avoided. Recognize the temptations all around.

When you keep doing the right thing, you’ll be ready for the next thing.

2. When I stand, it is just a matter of time.

Something happens the more we expose ourselves to the things that aren’t good for us. More than likely, it will be just a matter of time before we enter in.

I think about it like a cookie sitting on my desk…if I am trying to lose weight, sitting and looking at that cookie all day long isn’t going to help my efforts. Eventually, I will eat the cookie.

Good question to ask when we are in this place, “What am I willing to give up today to get to the next destination in my life?”

3. When I sit, it could be to late.

God has given us a clear right to freedom.

But, I’d be crazy to think I will never fall short of God’s grace again -I’ve already done that at least once today.

We will make poor choices, sometimes ones that will lead to consequences in our lives that may give us a detour with our dreams.

The truth is, as I take detours [whether big or small], I may lose time. I may lose opportunities. I may even lose relationships.

But, I will never lose my God and He will always have great plans for my life.

His love is incredibly deep, wide, and strong. His forgiveness will always be enough to put me back on the map.

As I’ve climbed through the detours of life, I often wish I would’ve  listened to God’s voice in the midst of the temptation say, “Nicki, turn your back and stay on the map.”

When we stay focused on what’s ahead, we will keep our backs to the things that detour us.

Turn your back, stay on the map. The best things are just ahead.