Who is your guide?

This summer I was blessed along with my family to travel to Spain. We decided while there to take a day trip to Morocco. We boarded our ferry for the ride across the Straights of Gibraltar. Who knew that our first stop on the African continent would actually still be considered Spain? Yes our first stop was the town of Cueta which is a Spanish territory. We boarded a bus and were driven across the border into Morocco. We were introduced to our guide, Abdul. While I truly appreciated the information he gave us on our bus ride, it wasn't until we entered our first open-air market that I began to realize how truly valuable Abdul was to us! We wandered through narrow uneven pathways lined with food, spices, chickens, hanging meats, vegetables, etc. As we went up and down steps, there were tiny rooms with tailors sewing, looms for rugs and fabrics, florists, toys, and the list goes on and on. Mixed along the way were doors to what appeared to be small apartments and many, many cats! We twisted and turned through one of the largest mazes I had ever been through. It wasn't long into our walk that our group began to sense two things:

1. That if Abdul ditched us at any point, we'd be completely lost.
2. That if Abdul ditched us at any point, we would no longer be safe.

Have you ever been in a situation where everything looked just fine, but you couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense that things were just not right? My husband noticed that we had a few men following us, pretending to be on cell phones and uninterested in us, but yet always right next to us. He finally mentioned something to Abdul who then admitted that they were part of our "security." I noticed cash money being slipped to various men along our path. I think the others in our group began to have the same feeling, because we all began to stick VERY close to Abdul. Well I can say that Abdul did his job well, because we all made it out of there, unharmed. It was a fantastic experience and I am so glad we were able to experience it! Here's a picture of Abdul:

Recently, I've really been battling with the thought "Who is MY guide?" As a Christian, it's easy to just blurt out, "Well God, of course!" But is that always true? I mean how many times do I pick up the phone to call my mom or a friend and ask them questions about how to handle my kids? Or turn to self help books, videos, podcasts, blogs or tv shows? Do I TRULY always go to God first? How much do I worry, try to plan outcomes, and "make" things happen? Do I let Him be my guide? Or am I sometimes just my own guide? Do I determine what I want and then just go for it or decide that because it just feels right, it must be right? What about in my acting, do I consult God before I submit for each project or ask Him to direct me to the next one?

Just as Abdul guided us through the Moroccan Market, my God is available at all times to do the same for me. He can guide me through the maze of my life, through rocky paths, unknown territories, ups and downs, dangerous situations, and guide me when I am completely lost. He can even post "security" guards along my various routes. I don't want to miss out on the scenery of life by following the wrong guide or simply guiding myself! Lord help me to allow You to be my guide in all that I do!

Isaiah 30:21 says, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." HE truly is our guide!