The Empty Shell (1)

"An empty shell": these words of truth kept echoing over and over in my mind.

I was driving my friend, Anna, home from church, and I mentioned to her how I had been neglecting my Bible reading and prayer time lately. Her reply was something that I did not expect. She told me that while she was praying earlier that morning, something within her told her that I was on the road to becoming an empty shell. Wow! That hit me square between the eyes.

"An empty shell": that is what I was becoming, because of choices that I had been making. Busyness is the ally of the accuser, who is the devil or Satan. Busyness kept me from spending time alone with God. My daily ritual of reading my Bible, praying, and writing, was put on the side-burner. The latter, I believe, is the reward one receives when inspiration comes.

I remember writing, "Jesus saves!" and "Jesus Loves You!" on the rocks on the public beach without fear and with courage. I remember carrying my Bible everywhere and anticipating an opportunity to speak to others about Jesus and how He died and rose again for us. There was a fire within me that could not be quenched or contained.

God, to me, at that time, was alive and working! And I was excited! I was attending a life-changing Bible study that I'll tell you more about tomorrow.

But my life had now become hectic. My daily time alone with God was replaced by checking my e-mails first. I was glad that God sent Anna to remind me of the relationship that He and I had had.

When we are going through a dry spell and feel like I did, perhaps God is trying to tell us that He misses us and values our time with Him in the Word and in prayer.

Matthew 28:20 – Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (NASB)

Prayer: Thank You, God, for never leaving us or forsaking us through our struggles, our choices, and our pain. You remind us that You are always with us, even to the end of the age. Amen.

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