Maintaining Directional Control in the Journey of Life.

Life is full of challenges, as the scripture evidently tells us, “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble.”

Job 14:1

Unfortunately, the trouble of life has overwhelmed many to the point of being wrongly positioned in God’s plan. As a result, many have lost “directional control”- the ability to remain on course as we navigate life amidst challenges. However, the secret to overcoming challenges of life and maintaining directional control as we navigate various facets of life is hidden in the Bible, and it’s synonymous with a concept well known in the aviation industry to ensure directional control is maintained in flights. Understanding and applying this secret enables a man to be victorious in life’s journey.

The essence of maintaining directional control is ensuring an aircraft is heading in the intended direction. However, several factors can lead to the loss of directional control, one of which is the loss of an engine in a multi-engine aircraft. When this happens, an aircraft is expected to yaw toward the dead engine. Nevertheless, pilots can still maintain directional control with one engine inoperative by applying the opposite rudder. A rudder is a movable primary control surface mounted on the trailing edge of the vertical fin of an aircraft, and its movement rotates the airplane about its vertical axis. Rudders enable pilots to stir the nose of the aircraft wherever they which and help to maintain directional control in flight in case of an emergency, such as engine failure.

According to Apostle James, the human tongue is like a rudder- it determines the direction of your life.  

Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.”

(James 3:3-5)

The tongue is the rudder of human life. It’s a powerful part of the human body that serves many functions and is potent to keep the boat of your life in the right direction when tribulations and the storm of life rage. It’s small but capable of nullifying the effect of evil activities if rightly engaged. No matter the level of oppression targeted to make the boat of your life capsize, as long as your tongue is on fire for the Lord and draws strength from God, you can maintain directional control in life’s journey.

There is a man in the Bible called Job. He was faced with many overwhelming unpleasant attacks. The devil attacked the boat of his life until his entire life crashed, but God preserved his life. In his ignorance, he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21). Little did he know that the devil was at work and God was not the one directly inflicting pain on him, and because of his ignorance of what was going on, he resigned to fate.”

Let’s look at it from this perspective, will your earthly father permit a strong man to fight you if he’s aware that you have no stamina to resist him? Obviously not! Since your earthly father cannot do so, how much more is our heavenly father. God is faithful; He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. So, for God to allow the devil to stretch his hands against Job, God knew Job had the ability to resist the devil, dislodge forces of darkness, and shake off the wickedness of the wicked. This secret was revealed to Job when the Lord began to respond to his questions. The Lord said to him:  

Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?

Job 38:12-13

What an insightful and thought-provoking question! The Lord simply revealed to Job what it takes to maintain directional control amidst challenges. This shows that if Job had prayed and issued some decrees with his tongue, he would have shaken off the wickedness of the wicked, put an end to satanic harassment, and pronounced life to the dead situations in his life for scripture tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). Instead, Job resigned to fate and began to question God. Many believers have resigned to fate like Job. The devil is busy harassing their lives with attacks from all corners. Their so-called faith in God is gradually becoming fate because of their inability to open their mouths and command the morning so that they can shake off the wickedness of the wicked and maintain directional control in life. So, beloved, no matter what comes your way, get on your knees, and make decrees over your life to head in the right direction. God has made you god over every life’s situation, for it is written, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High”. (Psalm 82:6). 

Indeed, Job held on to God and remained faithful, but faith that is void of prayer may give the devil continuous access to attack. God expects believers to know their authority and walk in it. He has bestowed the honor of authority and power upon us through prayers, and anyone who fails to recognize such honor may die cheaply as the scripture says, “A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish”. (Psalm 49:20). 

When the Spirit of the Lord carried Ezekiel to the valley full of lifeless bones, the Lord asked him if the bones could still live. Ezekiel said, you alone know. The Lord didn’t issue a decree but caused Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. The Bible records that, as Ezekiel prophesied, … “there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone”.  (Ezekiel 37:7). The same authority is given to every child of God to end satanic harassment, maintain directional control, and call those things which do not exist as though they did. 

However, to consistently maintain directional control, we need to take note of the following: 

Always act promptly: Never wait until the devil fully harasses your life before issuing decrees to avert whatever he has done. At the first indication of satanic harassment, when you begin to perceive the occurrence of the unexpected, you must swing into action. In flight operations, every pilot is always prepared to handle unforeseen circumstances. For example, once pilots notice the nose of the aircraft begins to yaw, the opposite rudder is required to keep the nose of the aircraft straight.

As a standard rule, the aircraft must not yaw more than 5 degrees before applying the opposite rudder. Failure to do so is a failure in an examination called check-ride. This is because when aircraft continues to yaw towards the dead engine without prompt recovery actions, a complete loss of directional control may occur, which may eventually lead to an accident. Similarly, prompt actions are needed when signs of bad omen are beginning to manifest.

If Job had swung into action by praying against the wickedness of the wicked when the first set of messengers came to give him negative reports, the devil wouldn’t have asked for further permission to trouble his life. So, prompt actions and a high level of spiritual sensitivity are needed to ensure we continuously maintain directional control in life’s journey. 

Ensure your tongue is effective: The effectiveness of the rudder hinges on the location of the center of gravity (CG). That is, rudders are less effective when the center of gravity move aft and more effective with a forward CG—relating this to our daily lives means that if you are far behind in your walk with God, your tongue may become less effective in maintaining directional control when challenges of life come, and your prayers may be impotent in shaking off the wickedness of the wicked. This is the reason many pray without getting desired results. In contrast, when you keep up with your walk with God, your tongue becomes more effective in dislodging satanic oppressions. Beloved, this is extremely important. To have dominion, you must be serious with your walk with God. 

In conclusion, with the help of God, you have what it takes to handle life’s challenges. Your tongue is like a rudder capable of helping you maintain directional control as you navigate various facets of life.