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Listen while you read: "There Is A Happy Land"1 (Lyrics) |
Romans 11:33 – Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (NKJV)
This morning, from the moment that I got up and prepared to sit down for my devotional time with God, so many things have come to distract me that I was sure that it had to be the enemy. It couldn't be simply coincidence.
Before I settled down to read and pray, I decided to take some special tea that I had brewed and drain it through a strainer into a large container. However, instead of draining it into the container, I drained it into the sink. I growled with annoyance at my stupidity. I guess that I wasn't completely awake. Then, I noticed that there was still some left in the pot, so I poured that into the container, thinking that I would at least have some of it to drink. But the next thing that I knew, for some unexplainable reason, I dumped the tea remaining in the container out into the sink as well. In His mercy, God kept me calm, where normally I might have blown my top. He understood that my intentions were good, and waited patiently for me to make some coffee before I sat down.
As I slowly began to drink the coffee and was waiting to hear the Lord's voice, I raised my eyes upward with the intention of worshipping Him. There on the ceiling, just above my head, I spotted a ladybug.
My first thought was to sweep it down, but I realized that it was another distraction, so I decided to wait until I was finished with my devotionals. However, my eyes seemed to have a mind of their own, and they continually wandered to where that insect was sitting, despite my determination to ignore it.
As I picked up my devotional book and began to read, the doorbell rang. I felt a slight twitch of annoyance as I got up to answer it. It was my postman with a package for me. As I sat down again, I took a deep breath. Perhaps now, I would finally be able to spend some time in prayer and meditation. Just to be sure, I asked the Lord to keep any further distractions away so that I could have an uninterrupted quiet time with Him.
As I began to read my Bible, I relaxed, assured in my mind that I would have no further distractions. Then, the doorbell rang again. This time, I simply decided to ignore it. However, something seemed to tell me that I should answer it. I'm so glad that I listened. My neighbour, whose husband is dying of cancer, had come over in tears, to ask me to pray with her.
How great is our God! Indeed, His ways are past finding out. What a blessing for both my neighbour and me came as result of my listening for His still, small voice and heeding His promptings.
As I was retiring this evening, I thought over my rather strange day, and I wondered if there were any way for us, as believers, to distinguish immediately the difference between mere distractions and specific situations that God has designed for His purposes. As we prepare to spend time with Him, we should always ask for His discernment on this, to avoid any possible annoyances or change of plans that might arise from various distractions, to keep us from hearing His voice.
As I put out the light, it seemed almost as if I heard the Lord saying, "A word to the wise is sufficient. Now go to sleep." — and I did, peacefully, with a smile on my lips.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your still small voice. May we never allow our human reactions and emotions to deafen it, and may we always obey its leading. Amen.
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Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – In Scarborough, Ontario — Pray for those who gather Wednesday mornings in the lobby of Grace West Hill Presbyterian Church, Scarborough, Ontario, for fellowship with coffee at "Second Timothy's". Pray for good fellowship with a sense of the Holy Spirit's presence. Pray that they would be encouraged to share with those they meet and work with.
Prayer for Pastor Kristen: "Update January14, 2025: Kristen is facing another round of radiation. She is virtually a shut in,..." 
I know exactly what you say.
Good thought today Sharon!
Thanks for the encouraging word, Sharon.
Such is the challenge of life. Keep on keeping on.
Thank you.
(Texas)
Hi,
I just loved your devotions today and always. God Bless you.
What a delightful story with so much insight. I have often experienced this, and then will come a time of quiet that I am sure He provides.
And when I don’t listen His voice gets louder!
Sharon, I had to smile as I read your devotional, as I could relate to it so. Thank you for a message that hit the mark for me, as I sometimes struggle to concentrate during my devotional time. It is nice to know that others sometimes have this problem too.
Sharon,
Odd how things go for us Christians when we let Him lead!
Too much to relate, we could be twins!
(CA)
Amen to that Sharon.
Those darned distractions can get us every time, but thankfully – with a little bit of help from our Lord – we can overcome them – big or small.
Stay warm.
Sharon – I could write this devotional on many days!!! Distractions are so easy to catch our eyes/ears and distract us from our devotional time with God. You ask a good question, though, how do we distinguish our own failings of distraction from something God may be using to obtain our attention. Thanks for writing this. God Bless you.
Hello Sharon
Did you hit the nail on the head with this one. Wow. I thought maybe it was just me. I will usually ask if this is a distraction with a purpose for You Lord or just a distraction to be a distraction. Amazing how things can pop up when you are about to spend time with God. Thanks, I enjoyed this devotional today.
God bless
Good morning Sharon: As an 84 yr. old child of God who has communicated with my Heavenly Father for more than 75 yrs. I will make this statement: If my peace with God has not been disturbed by the circumstances of the moment, or day, then God is in the middle of all the activity.
It is so good to known that God has a need for us to be ready to serve Him, even on a minute’s notice, at our age. Of course, that is an assumption on my part about you.
I love your devotions, you talk at my level.
My thought for the day: It is better for the tea to go down the sink than all over the floor; or worse yet, inside the cupboard drawers. Been there and done that. God bless you today.
Thanks for a really good devotional, Sharon. I’m sure many of us can relate to it.
Thanks Sharon for sharing your experience complete with the Lord’s own words to you. Blessings.
Hi Sharon,
I wonder about something that has been my challenge to churches for many years. They like to refer to Satan as the evil spirit or our evil nature… anything else that completely distances us from thinking he is a figure. Not many people call him Satan in writing or in sermons anymore. I know that’s not the point of your story .. far from it.
I have had days like that. How frustrating to keep your cool!! But God has a plan and I certainly need patience in those times. I’m not patient by nature.
I know all too well the verse in Isaiah 40 and the chorus that goes with it. “They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they shall rise up on wings as eagles.”
However, the issue of calling Satan by name has always provided a small thorn in my theological side!!
Hi Sharon,
Thank you for your devotional the other day, we do seem to have days like that don’t we, days when everything goes wrong. But through faith we seem to cope and quite often things get better. The Lord looks after us
Blessings.