Hello Reader,

Several months ago it was time for our family to car shop for a new vehicle and I got a new (to me) car. It took a while to learn all the buttons and sensors. Technology changes so quickly that there were many features in this newer vehicle I was unfamiliar with. One nifty little feature is the car icon on my screen which shows me when my car is too close to another or if the car begins to veer either to the right or left of the lane too much.

The purpose of this feature is to help the driver make certain they don't accidentally cause damage or destruction by hitting another vehicle in the lanes next to them.

In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and reminded them that their members were not right or wrong if they chose one way of life over another (there was internal battles in the church over whether believers needed to remain unmarried or not), but that God had specific paths for different people. In verse 17 he writes,

"Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches."

As I read through this chapter I thought back to the car sensor and the danger that happens when we veer into another's lane. Outside of driving, the same principle applies in our lives. Each and everyone of us has a life God has assigned for us to live, a path for us to follow. We each have our own lane.

When we lean into comparison, or start to compete with others, when we get covetous of another, or wish our lives looked like hers we are veering into another's lane, and it is dangerous territory.

The beauty of the body of Christ is that God weaves all our stories into a beautiful story crafted by Him, but that happens when we actually live the story we are assigned and we aren't trying to live in someone else's story or lane. The problem the Corinthians were facing was trying to remove marital relationships in order to live more godly, and in so doing they wanted everyone to be the same and have the same story, but that's not how God works. For some, God was going to work in their story through their marriage, and for others it would be through their singleness.

While our struggle today isn't trying to get everyone in the church to be single, we still struggle with wanting everything to be the same. We want all believers to grow at the same pace, we struggle when one person moves faster in an area of life than another, or if God does something extraordinary in one person's story but not another's story. As women especially we can struggle with comparing to competing with others, wanting our lives to look like the life of the woman in the lane next to us. The problem with this is when our eyes are to our right or left we lose focus on where God is actually calling us to live. We can't move forward in faith when we are scanning other lanes in desire.

This week think about what it is God has assigned for your life, give Him thanks for the assignment and spend some time in self reflection. Are you faithfully stewarding the lane He's placed you in, seeking to honor Him with what's in front of you? Have you been looking over into the lanes of those around you, wishing you life looked more like someone else's? Repent and redirect your focus on God and where He wants you.

God has a beautiful work assigned to each and every one of us. When we walk faithfully submitted to Him we avoid veering into things we shouldn't or destroying the work we do have. Plus, as we each walk in the assignments God has given us, and work out of the gifts He has entrusted to us, we help the body of Christ grow and flourish.

Father, if I've been veering into another lane where I don't belong forgive me and redirect me to be where You want me to be. Fix my focus on You and You alone. Help me stay locked into the assignment You have for me so I can be found faithful in Your sight. In the name of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit I pray, amen.

In His Grace,

A Special Offer Just for My Friends 🥳:

If you've been around a while you know I've often partnered with Katie Orr over at the Bible Study Hub for the Enjoy God Word Bible Conferences and other projects. Monday starts our study on the book of Philippians over at the Bible Study Hub.

If you're interested in this, or just learning more about the session on Philippians click the link below. 👇🏻

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Natalia Drumm is a wife, homeschooling mother to three boys, and graduate from Dallas Theological Seminary with a passion for women's ministry and sharing the Gospel. Seeking to glorify God through equipping women to study Scripture and grow in their faith, she is the creator of Girlfriends in the Word™ Bible studies for busy women. To learn more, or connect with her online you can find her on Instagram @nataliadrumm or check out her website www.nataliadrumm.com​

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