Lessons #15: Start with God

I love solving problems. It may be one of the things that I love doing most . . . or perhaps it's simply the idea of checking something off a list.

And that love may be why I get so much satisfaction out of serving as academic advisor in our little high school. Kids come to me wanting to know where they should study creative writing or archaeology or construction management. I start digging into college catalogs (which are mostly online now, by the way, so the "digging" now looks more like "clicking") and find some good options. When I hear a year or so later that that former student LOVES his or her school/major/dorm/life, I feel amazing.

Yay! Happily ever after! Check that off my mental list! And on to the current school year's seniors!

However, sometimes my love for problem solving gets me into trouble, because I have the tendency to forge ahead and forget to invite God into the process. An example is that I signed up for several counseling trainings this fall. All of them are important, but all of them were full days away from school, which has now gotten me way behind on my other responsibilities.

The Message's version of Proverbs 1:7 is awesome: "Start with GOD -- the first step in learning is bowing down to GOD; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning." When I speak on prayer, I always refer to the Lord as my Problem Solver and suggest that going to him as a first response rather than a last resort is the best possible plan for our lives.

Hmmm . . . perhaps the counselor should have sought out The Counselor two months ago when she was signing up for all those trainings!

Yes, I've again learned that the best way to start a school year . . . or any project or relationship or anything . . . is to START with God. He will always point my nose in the right direction.

How can I pray for you today? Got a problem we can take to the Problem Solver?