Bob and I have been fishing on the San Juan River in New Mexico since 2010. We always have a guide who helps us catch “monster” trout on a fly so small it can barely be seen. Our guide in those early years was Rusty, always teaching and guiding us to success. He would teach us about the flow of the river, the nooks and eddies along the way, how to keep from snagging along the bank, how to hold and keep the line tight and throw correctly, mend upstream or down, and to always watch the indicator to know that a fish was about to bite. He would yell “fish on” and the battle would begin. As he navigated the boat, keeping it in the right direction or rowing upstream to fish a spot again, we would obey his orders. These are the ingredients for a good guide, but only if we listen and obey.
God is our guide in a much more important river, the river of life. When swift waters come and rock our boat we must listen and obey in order to be victorious in our life lessons. The Lord will navigate as we drift down uncertain waters, and He will be our guide. He will teach us about going in the right direction, show us his purposes and plans, and fight our battles along beside us. True joy is found along our journey when we let God’s touch guide us.
God’s Touch Guide me with your touch, Lord, Teaching along the way. Show me your direction And lead me every day. Your light shining through me, Darkness overtaken, Touch me with your purpose, My faith in you awaken. Your hand always holding firm. Gentle words, so divine. Your grace reaching out in love, My life to refine. Refined when I am tested, Shining forth like gold, Becoming shaped and molded, God’s plans for me unfold. Yes, be the Lord of my life, Whose touch can impart Fingerprints that I can feel Imprinted on my heart.