Living on autopilot – Dr. Mark Williamson, the director of Action for Happiness, and Professor Renata Salecl, a sociologist and philosopher, surveyed 3,000 people in which 96 percent of them admitted living on autopilot.

The Urban Dictionary defines living on autopilot as follows:

“When you do something without realizing what you’re doing (usually results in making a mistake).”* (*Source: Urban Dictionary; web link: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=autopilot)

We may be overwhelmed or underwhelmed with our current life circumstances, and so we are either bored to tears or burdened beyond what we can bear. Stuck in a deadly routine, we unconsciously let go of something far too precious to lose: our joie de vivre. It seems the author of Psalm 51 became fed up with a life devoid of passion and joy and so he prayed (Psalm 51:12):

“Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say.” *Bible Version: The Passion Translation (TPT)

In case you cringe as you read the line “willing spirit that obeys whatever you say” – submitting a carte blanche to the Lord is a good thing. It would be dangerous if we submitted to a person in this manner – no human being should have that kind of power over us – but by telling the Lord “I do whatever you say” we are on the path to lasting joy and happiness.

Christ is no abuser of a carte blanche. He does not outstay His welcome nor overrule our decisions. What He does though, He very gently points us into the right direction. Our life profoundly changes when we start to follow Him. His ways lead to eternal life. The Lord alone can sustain us because He knows our deepest needs. Staying close to Him, we stay close to everything that matters.