NOTE: In this devotional I mention several alternate Bible translations other than NIV & NKJV which are the most widely used versions for translating the original Hebrew & Greek into English. I think there is a lot of value in studying expanded & alternate versions of verse for the messages they convey. Not for their deviation from the original word-for-word text, but for the abstract concepts they offer – a message that highlights the love, compassion & mercy of God.

So long as nothing is removed or added to God’s message then nothing is wrong with that. Hopefully you’ll understand when you read the passages below.

Finding your way home.

Anyone remember paper maps?

If you’re old enough, you remember your parents had that giant paper map carefully folded up and put away in the glove compartment of the car.

When you wanted to find your way somewhere you’d get a map out, unfold it and carefully study the map for the roads, highways & turns you’d have to take to get to your destination. It was actually a huge pain.

Now all the folding and unfolding and finding has been replaced with a navigation app on your phone.

And its amazing, I love it.

My favorite feature is a button that says HOME

No matter where I am around town, no matter how lost I am, I tap home and it quickly gives me the directions to return home. To return back where I belong. The place where I feel safe & protected.

Do you ever wish you had a spiritual HOME button? To return home to God. Coming back to a safe place in the arms of your Creator.

It would be awesome if there was an app for that.

Fortunately, God isn’t an app you download from the Apple store.

That said, it may take a little work like that paper map, but you can return home to God.

Close your eyes and reflect on this passage from Isaiah chapter 55. And as you do, center on the spirit & safety of God. Attend to God’s presence during this time as you return home to God. Begin to return home…

As you read this passage, respond in your mind “Lord God, I long to return to You.”

ISAIAH 55:6-7 (NIV)

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near.

“Lord God, I long to return to You.”

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts, let them turn to the Lord.

“Lord God, I long to return to You.”

He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“Lord God, I long to return to You.”

In your navigation app you have to type in your home address for it to know your location, but once its there the return destination never changes. No matter where you move around town, home is always in the same place. Its the same way with God.

We move, He doesn’t.

Like the song we sing, “God never changes”

I know in my own life I often find myself moving – sometimes closer to Him, sometimes away from Him. A lot of this depends on the circumstances. Especially during times of peace, ironically, we find ourselves moving away from Him. We so often only draw near to God when we need Him.

Note those times and how it feels when you are moving away from Him. Note how it feels to feel lost. Do you ever feel you are too distant to return home?

To return to God..?

What does it feel like when you realize you are back on the road to returning home? Focus on those thoughts of returning and how good it feels to get closer to home, closer to God and His Spirit & His presence.

Along the way there’s always going to be distractions, however, don’t get angry or upset at those distractions – rather, celebrate them, as reminders to center yourself back on your journey, your journey home to God.

Whisper the prayer, “Lord, I long to return to you.” and contemplate on this expanded reading from the New International Readers Version, a passage from the prophet Joel.

He was writing to a people lost, in the midst of chaos and destruction:

Joel 2:12 (NIRV)

“So then my beloved friend, listen carefully to the Lords announcement, hear him whisper to you, return to me now with all your heart – there is till time – do not wait, do not eat any food, do not weep & mourn – just return to me now.

Contemplate on that passage and follow His voice.

Now listen to the same passage but with a wider reading from the Christian Standard Bible.

(Joel 2:12 CSB)

Even now this is the Lord’s declaration – turn to me with all of your heart, with fasting, weeping & mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love and He relents from sending disaster. Who knows, He may even turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him so you can offer grain and wine to the Lord your God.

Consider how that passage made you feel? How you feel about God? The God described in that passage?

Now reflect again, on this this 3rd expanded reading of the English Standard Version – as a prayer of faith & contemplation on the Word of God.

(Joel 2:12 ESV)

Dear heavenly Father, yet even now as I come to you in prayer I desire even more to return to you with all of my heart – To return to you, for your promises are gracious & merciful. You promise to be slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, so by your grace grant me a reprieve from your judgment, and send me a blessing instead of a curse – I am following your voice home as I pray this now in your glorious promise keeping name,

AMEN

Reflect on the joy of slowly turning around to follow His voice home, with the desire to return to Him with all of your heart.

Sometimes in life we feel lost beyond hope or start becoming afraid that we are too far away. One interesting feature of a navigation app is it constantly recalculates the way home – even if you miss an exit or make a wrong turn.

In the same way, the location of God never changes.

His voice will always guide you home even if you make a wrong turn.

Listen to His voice. Listen to His directions…

They’ve already been calculated, no matter how lost you are. No matter far you have strayed.

Return to where you were destined to be & silently whisper your answer to your prayer –

Lord I have returned to you.

As you rest in the centering presence of God, notice those around you that you encounter on the road of life who are still lost, going in the wrong direction, and think on how God might use you to help another return home too.

Be mindful of those early moments you start to lose direction, and immediately begin to return home to God.

Hear him whisper to you, “Return to me with all your heart, there is still time..”

Do not wait..