Be Still: 30 Devotions for the Hopeful HeartSample

Living on Autopilot

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. EPHESIANS 5:15–16 ESV

We have all had the experience of driving somewhere, arriving, and having absolutely no idea how we got there safely. We went through stoplights, made a few turns, and shifted gears, all without really telling our brains to do anything. The autopilot kicked into gear.

How often do we operate like this in other parts of our life? We establish thought patterns and drive down the same “roads”—and before we know it, they become our go-to routes. We see the results they cause and we want our life to look different, but we also want the new thought patterns to come easily. The work feels too hard; shouldn’t it come easier if the desire is there? We forget the power of autopilot and the tendency to jump into our car, turn on the music, and drive without intentionally deciding where we are going.

We wonder why our hope feels drained, but we have not chosen a new method of thinking.

We are frustrated with the lack of progress on our dreams, but we have made no efforts to carve out time to work on them.

We yearn for self-confidence, yet we rehearse the same lies over ourselves and our bodies. We have to do some rewiring. The Lord is really good at giving our brain new truths to marinate on and our soul new promises to hope in, but we must spend time with Him first.

Being still with Jesus is the only way to reverse our autopilot lifestyle and create a more intentional route.

We do not have to clean up or pretend as though we have been intentionally aware; He knows when we are just moving through life. We do not have to wait until we get to another corner in order for Him to get involved—we can begin now. Even though we will want to turn on the music when we feel like life is asking too much of us, if we can just lean into Him and be still as He leads, we will experience the fullest life possible.

No more autopilot; life is too short and too grand to waste on simply existing.

Dear Jesus, thank You for the way that You lead us, even when our pride or fear has kept us from seeking You. Show us the way to go. Turn off the music, shut off our distractions, remove “autopilot” mode, and let us be alert as we seek Your will. In Jesus’s name, amen.