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My car has an option that keeps me centered. Literally. If I veer too far to the line marking my lane on either side, a flashing dashboard light and beeping signals I have gone too far.
My daughters hate the noise.
“Can’t you disable it?” they have all asked on many occasions.
“Why would I do that? It’s helpful!”
“Could you at least not get so close to the lines?”
I’m sure they’d rather I drive the car my friend owns. Hers doesn’t make a sound; however, she receives a nudge on her shoulder if she drives too far to the left or right.
Wouldn’t it be nice if life came with warning signals? What if an alarm would sound when I was about to meddle in someone else’s business? How about a nudge on the shoulder right when my words grow close to unkind or rude? Or when I am about to cross the line and disobey a clear instruction in Scripture, or an area I know is not God’s will for my life, what if I heard a continual beeping sound until I self-corrected?
Such signs do exist, but I’ve never found them to be visible or audible.
I like to pray prayers I find in the Bible. Psalm 139:23, 24 is one of my favorites, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
God is faithful to signal to me – through heart whispers, absence of peace over a decision, or a friend’s counsel – when I’m about to cross the line. I pray for wisdom to always pay attention.

Ronny Michel can be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.