In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, host Elizabeth Pittman is joined by guest Sharla Fritz to discuss Sharla’s newest book, Divine Directions: How God Guides Your Path.

Order the book now on CPH’s website at cph.org/divinedirections.

Show Notes
From Moses’ journey to the Promised Land and Ruth’s journey in life, it’s easy to see that following your own itinerary never goes as planned. In her new book, Divine Directions, Sharla Fritz writes about how this is especially true in her own travel woes. During the episode, listen as Sharla discusses these personal travel stories, the eight Biblical travels she writes about in the book, what it looks like to trust God’s itinerary instead of our own, how to reflect on our spiritual journeys, and more.

Questions

• What inspired you to write Divine Directions, and how did your own experiences with travel influence the theme?
• Why did you choose these eight biblical journeys to include in the study? Was there one that surprised you during your research?
• What common threads did you find among these journeys, despite their very different circumstances and outcomes?
• Can you share how one of these stories—perhaps Ruth or Jonah—has shaped your understanding of God’s guidance?
• One of the study's key ideas is that “God rarely gives us a detailed map.” How can that be comforting instead of frustrating?
• What does it look like, practically, to trust God’s itinerary instead of our own?
• You include timelines, maps, and historical context. How does understanding the “where and when” of Scripture help readers apply it to the “here and now”?
• This study is meant for both individual reflection and small group discussion. How does community enhance our ability to follow God’s lead?
• You encourage readers to share their own stories. Why is it so powerful to reflect on our spiritual journeys out loud?
• What encouragement would you offer to someone currently feeling lost or stuck at a crossroads in life?
• What do you hope readers take away from this study once they’ve completed all eight journeys?

About the Guest
Sharla Fritz loves to speak with women's groups and to share about her own struggles, victories, and failures, speaking about how God is miraculously present through them all. In doing so, she hopes to share a few laughs and meet new sisters in Christ. Sharla is a Lutheran author, musician, and speaker. She has published numerous books with Concordia Publishing House, including Measured by Grace, God's Relentless Love, Divine Makeover: God Makes You Beautiful, Divine Design: 40 Days of Spiritual Makeover, and Bless These Lips: 40 Days of Spiritual Transformation.