Asking Why Did I Do That?

Making mistakes… ever been there?

Wondering, “Why did I do that?”

Oh. that fabulous feeling when you KNOW that you are doing something you aren’t meant to be doing.

{Read “fabulous” in the above sentence completely sarcastically}

When you said yes… and you should have said no.

When you chose your way without seeking council.

When you jumped in with both feet before praying.

When you committed without knowing all the details.

When you ignored your heart tugging you away and moved ahead anyway.

Making mistakes where they could have been avoided.

When you knew your plate was full but this next task just seemed so enticing.

And then, the feeling of knowing you are busy doing something not meant for your hands.

That feeling.

The feeling of “Why did I do that?”

I’ve been there. You’ve been there.

Unfortunately, because of human nature, we will find ourselves there again.

But I’m praying that as I mature in my walk with Christ, the moments of feeling this way will be less and less.

I’m praying to be increasingly more sensitive to His voice. His leading. His prompting.

I was reading in my devotions recently about a farmer and his dog.

The farmer had taken the dog with him on his journey for the day. The farmer rode in the wagon and the dog ran beside the wagon. As the dog ran, he chased cats down lanes, ran after rabbits in fields, sniffed out new smells along the road and into the woods. Running all around and zigzagging back and forth across the road all day long.

Upon arriving home, the dog was exhausted, panting and tired. The farmer shook his head and said, “If he had just run along with the wagon, he wouldn’t be so tired. It was all the zigzagging around that wore him out not the miles we traveled.”

The verse with the devotion said, “So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33

I love how the verse starts. “So be careful…”

Oh, it takes immense care to make sure I walk in obedience!

Care to pray. Care to listen. Care to wait for an answer. Care to ask questions. Care to obey.

It is especially hard when it is something we WANT to do. Or something we LIKE to do. Or something we are good at. Or something that seems to be just right.

It still might not be a God-ordained activity or responsibility or commitment for that season of life.

Like this dog, it is so easy to run after smells or fun sights or chase down the next thing coming our way.

Zigzagging around until we drop with exhaustion.

If only we had been careful…

“Listen…” the Spirit whispers to us. “Be careful… follow me.”

Then, after being careful, the Bible warns us not to turn to the left or the right… just walk.

Walk in obedience.

Not run. Not zigzagging in busy, craziness.

Walk.

Why?

So that we will live long and prosper.

God has good things in store for His children.

He has big plans for us and we need to be ready, rested and willing when His voice says, “This is it! Go for it! I planned this just for you!”

We won’t be able to be ready for His plan if we are exhausted and tied up in plans and projects of our own making.

We must learn to walk with Jesus or we will become bogged down, exhausted from the zigzagging through life. Busying ourselves with unnecessary cares, worries, jobs and tasks that were never meant to be on our plate at all.

So in the busyness… in the crazy of real life…

Be careful. Don’t zigzag. Purpose to follow His lead.

Choose to be careful and walk His path.

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