Proverbs 16:9 English Standard Version (ESV) The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Because God is involved in every aspect of our lives we can imagine secular comparisons in many different things we do in life. These comparisons are our flesh trying to make sense of the sovereign ability of God to direct our paths. Here is my latest thoughts.

I use the telephone app Android Auto to navigate to places I have never been before. I do a search on Google Maps and get directions. Then I send the directions to my phone and it loads into my car as I start my car and connect the phone.

Now that is a lot of connecting. That alone will take up a whole page of scripture to say how the Word reveals the desires of my heart in searching as I do in Google Maps. No need to go there as there are more important aspects to relate to God’s Word and His plans for us.

On long journeys where I even know where I am going, I still use Android Auto for services that go beyond just directions. The most important is what is going on in the world ahead that I cannot see through my windshield. The app communicates with many other aspects on the planned path to identify accidents, obstructions, slow downs, delays and even offers up detours to avoid trouble and time delays.

The knowledge collected and shared with me is so much like our God who knows all things in real time and in planning out our safest path.

Minor things appear that are helpful. Truckers can often obstruct my view of posted speed limit signs and changes can cause me to be speeding. The app shows the speed limits so that I will not violate the law. It will even give verbal announcements of speed traps ahead allowing me to check myself.

These are secular comparisons and we as writers use them often but none of them should replace our use of His Word to direct our lives.