What Have You Been Programmed By?

I was driving to see my daughter in Winchester and found myself sailing past some stunningly beautiful, thatched cottages. While I enjoyed this surprise find down some winding bends, enveloped by steep green slopes full of sheep, it didn’t seem right. It was not familiar territory, and I was sure this was not the route I usually travelled. And where was the M4? The app Waze was taking me the short route, or so I thought.

Jeremiah 29:11 is our SatNav for life

After a few miles of hedgerows and hidden turns, I checked the settings—and realised ‘Avoid Motorways’ was switched on. I had been faithfully following directions, but I had unknowingly been programmed to take the scenic route.

It made me wonder—how often do we follow paths in life or in our faith without questioning what we’ve been programmed by? What are the unseen settings steering our spiritual journeys? Are we open to all the routes the Lord might have for us, or are we turning off certain ones and giving him limited access?

Following the Wrong ‘Home’

Another time, we were on our way home to Stroud from Weymouth. My dad was driving and according to my calculations, we should have been home by 4.30pm. But instead, we found ourselves in Salisbury as Dad’s Sat Nav insisted we took a detour to this town. It was relentless. Eventually, we figured it out—my parents had programmed the ‘Home’ button not to their actual home, but to my mum’s cousin’s house in Cricklade! We were being led by someone else’s destination.

Again, it made me stop and think. Whose ‘home’ am I really heading toward? Whose definition of ‘truth’ or ‘faith’ am I following?

Programmed by the World or by the Word?

In Romans 12:2, Paul writes: ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’

The word conform implies programming. If we don’t intentionally reset our settings, we’ll automatically default to the world’s version of wisdom, success, identity, and even spirituality. The word ‘conform’ means to comply, be obedient, or shape oneself to agree or be similar. As Christians we are called to conform to the ‘shape’ of Christ, aligning ourselves with His ways.

We can so easily go on autopilot, unknowingly following the world’s Sat nav—seeking comfort, approval, control— instead of intentionally tuning into God’s voice through His Word. And there are so many voices demanding our attention. It is interesting that there are now many voice settings on the Sat Nav. On the Waze app, you can even select Paddington (actor Ben Whishaw) who intermittently talks about his love for oranges and marmalade sandwiches, while directing you!  

Check Your Settings

But we do have hope where the settings are concerned. We can reprogramme. The Holy Spirit is like a divine systems update, slowly transforming our operating system from the inside out.

Psalm 119:105 says:‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’

Walking with God

This verse reminds us that the Bible isn’t just a map—it’s the voice that recalibrates us when we’ve gone off course. I find myself saying throughout the day, ‘Your thoughts are not my thoughts, and Your ways are not my ways, I surrender my thoughts and ways to You. Take over.’ What I am saying is: ‘Lord take the driver’s wheel, take control and lead me even though I don’t understand the journey I am on at present.’

Who Set Your ‘Home’ Button?

In John 14:6 Jesus says: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’

He is not just a better destination—He’s the only reliable route. But if our internal Sat nav is set to the wrong ‘home’—a version of faith that’s more about tradition, comfort, or pleasing people—we’ll end up spiritually lost, even if we think we’re on track.

So, here’s the question: Who or what is programming your spiritual journey? Is it fear or faith? Culture or Christ? Assumptions or Scripture?

Final Thought

We all need to check our settings. Perhaps we need to ask God to show us what we’ve been following without realising. Maybe we’ve pressed ‘avoid discomfort’ or ‘no surrender’ or ‘take scenic route—but don’t go deep.’ However, the destination matters more than the comfort of the journey (although it is good to enjoy the landmarks along the way). So, let’s hit ‘Reset,’ ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, and trust that even if we’ve gone off course, God knows how to bring us home.

Our compass for life

 A Prayer to Reprogramme Our Journey

Lord, Thank You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. So often, we find ourselves on paths we did not intend to travel—guided by assumptions, habits, or the voices around us. Help us to pause and check the settings of our hearts.

Show us where we’ve been programmed by fear instead of faith, by comfort instead of calling, by the world instead of Your Word. Reset our spiritual Sat nav. Align our hearts with Your direction and help use to trust You, even when the road looks unfamiliar.

Forgive us for the times we’ve followed someone else’s ‘home’ or defined success and faith by someone else’s standard. Help us set our destination on You—on knowing You, loving You, and living for You.

Holy Spirit, be our constant guide. Recalibrate us when we drift, speak truth when we’re confused, and light our path with Your Word.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.