Guest Blog written by: Jessica Brown

have you ever gotten lost? searching frantically for directions?
mapquested your route? or used gps?

call me old-school, but i still use map quest when i am traveling for work.
and print the directions and map to read in the car! the white murano can
back up traffic and crawl at a snail’s pace when searching for an
unfamiliar destination. there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and honking
of horns. i’m sure of it.

anyway, i digress.

but much like the israelites, we need a pillar of smoke by day and fire by
night.
to lead us.
guide us.
direct us.
show us.

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of
cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed
them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar
of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
exodus 13:21-22

a pillar of smoke and fire.
to illuminate the path to take.
the way to go.
the direction to follow.

have you ever wondered where your pillar of smoke and fire are?
gracious knows, i have.
i have often asked for the flashing, neon arrow.
or the billboard on my way to work.
or a street sign plopped smack dab in the middle of my commute.

something. anything to confirm that i am on the right path.

i have pondered these verses all morning.
they have stirred in my soul and kicked up some toe-stepping realizations.

as followers of Christ, we want the tangible, see-with-our-earthly-eyes,
hear-with-our-earthly-ears road map.
the clear cut direction so we can stay the course.
and we neglect the truest way to discern the path.

His living, breathing Word.
for it is through it He speaks.
He guides.
He leads.
He reveals.
He illuminates.

the way to go.
the path to take.
the direction to follow.

for those joining us on this 90-day challenge, may you hear and see Him in
this journey. may you stop asking for the flashing arrows and pillars of smoke and fire.
and may you follow the leading of His still, small voice as He speaks
through His word.

much like the pillar of smoke and fire given to the israelites, may we know
His word has been given to His people and it will never depart.