MAPPING OUT YOUR FUTURE

May 25, 2006

Do you ever wonder why God doesn't just give you a map? Or does He?

THINK ABOUT IT

Poll: 1/3 of Youths Can't Find La. on Map

WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite the wall-to-wall coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, nearly one-third of young Americans recently polled couldn't locate Louisiana on a map and nearly half were unable to identify Mississippi.

Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 fared even worse with foreign locations: six in 10 couldn't find Iraq, according to a Roper poll conducted for National Geographic.

picture courtesy artie.com & story courtesy katc.com, 05/22/06

TAKE A LOOK

Proverbs 3:5 - (NLT)

⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

ACCORDING TO TODAY'S VERSE, WHAT IS THE ONE WORD THAT DESCRIBES HOW TO READ GOD'S MAP FOR OUR FUTURE?

That's right - TRUST! This is the key to reading God's map for our future.

Isn't it amazing to find out how many young people can't find one of the states or Iraq on a map? What do you think the reason is? Apathy? Selfishness? Living only in the moment?

These same reasons will keep us from identifying where we are at in relationship to God's map for our future.

Today's verse is one that is often used at graduation time or whenever someone is making plans for the future. The bottom line is for us to trust the Lord with our future. Let's look at what some of the words in the verse really mean:

Trust to lean or rest with one's full weight
LORD Jehovah...refers to God's promise-keeping character
All offering a sacrifice to be burned completely
Heart the center of the mind, will and emotions

When we're living out a total commitment to God, we're trusting Him and not ourselves. We're just human and make mistakes. God is perfect and never makes mistakes. By offering the promise-keeping God our mind, will and emotions, we are demonstrating our trust in His plan, which He has mapped out for our future.

TALK ABOUT IT

Thank God that He knows what is best for you and your future. With trust, commit to Him the decisions (big and small) you must make in the near future. Ask Him to give you the faith you need to trust Him as He leads you. Ask Him to give you the faith to trust Him even when things dont' go the way you had planned.

TRY IT

Memorize today's verse as a reminder to trust God with your future.
Whenever you see a map or a globe, let God remind you to trust Him with your future.
Make a list of the "TOP FIVE DECISIONS" you must make in the near future. Keep this in front of you every day. Trust God with them every day in prayer. Go to a Christian friend to join you in prayer for God's leading in your decision making.

ABOUT IT

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Byron Emmert Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.