This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God,    who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Is. 48:17)

When I was growing up, my family went on a road trip almost every summer. My dad, a teacher, had summers off, and since his mom lived in Nevada, we would take off and explore various points of the West on our way to visit her.

We peered over the edge of the Grand Canyon, explored Los Angeles, rode the rides at Disneyland and Knottsberry Farm, played in the snow in the Rocky Mountains in June, and watched the Old Faithful geyser spout off like clockwork. And of course, we spent time with our extended family once we arrived in Nevada, searching for geodes, exploring old ghost towns, and making lots of memories.

We spent many hours in the car, and when we drove through unfamiliar territory, my dad used a paper map.

Today when we travel, we use the map app on our phones. Sometimes, this gets us into trouble when the phone’s GPS system takes us off the beaten path and through the backwoods of Alabama (this really happened to us one time), but most of the time, the phone’s map provides the quickest route possible. This summer, on our trip to Michigan, it steered us around more than one construction obstacle that would have added hours to our drive time, and we got to see some of historic Route 66 along the way.

Maps are essential when traveling, and to be honest, I often use my phone’s GPS when driving around the city where I live. Even when I think I know how to get somewhere, I turn it on, just in case. I’ve been surprised at the number of times that I thought I knew where I was going—but didn’t. Thanks to my phone, I didn’t get lost, even though I was temporarily confused and blaming the phone for taking me the wrong way when, in fact, it had me going the right way all along.

When we get lost in life, the Bible can serve as a map to guide us back to the right path. God’s Word instructs us how to live and how to avoid obstacles like temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). Through the Bible, we learn to follow Jesus and live like he did. We also find the Roman’s road to salvation, which consists of the verses in Romans that spell out God’s plan of salvation for you and me (Rom. 3:3, 5:8, 6:23, 8:1, 10:9).

Sometimes, we may feel confused when we read the Bible, much the same way that I do when I think my phone’s GPS is sending me the wrong direction. That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. He reveals the truth of God’s Word to us, clarifies what we’re reading, and shows us how to implement it in our own lives.

Maps are essential for long trips, both on the highway and for our lives. Thankfully, we have a book that will guide us and show us the way.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the Bible that guides us and helps us get to know you better. When we feel lost and confused, help us to turn to your Word for guidance. Amen.