God and the Swimming Instructor

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." 
Psalm 32:8 (NIV)


This morning as I was swimming, I observed the swimming instructor working with a student. The instructor knows how to swim, so her job is to teach the student how to do just that. 
She showed up early and she had many props that would help the student to go from a non-swimmer to a swimmer. 
I heard her giving verbal feedback for the exercises she asked the student to do. I saw the instructor demonstrating exactly what the student needed to know in order to become a swimmer. 
That picture reminded me of Psalm 32:8. I need to see God and His word as my instructor. I know that a lot of times when we go to God, we want Him to be a genie in a bottle, doing whatever it is that we please. The fact is, God can't be manipulated. He wants to be Lord, He wants to instruct and guide. 
God shows up early. Even before everything on earth existed, He was already there. God uses a lot of different props to help me become who He has called me to be. I see those props as my marriage, the challenges I face and the natural flow of real life. 
The "verbal" feedback I get is found in God's Word. Jesus demonstrated the life that God calls me to live. 
If you need to go somewhere, I challenge you to make God your instructor. He will get you there every time.