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Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (NIV)
I had walked up to the main house to start the wood stove, as my family was away and the temperature was quickly dropping. As I turned the handle of the back door, preparing to go into the porch and bring in a load of kindling, I heard a strange hissing noise, like some huge snake announcing its presence. Startled, I paused and turned around, trying to discern the location of the noise.
It seemed to be coming from under the stairs where the hot water and pressure tank were. Walking over, I suddenly realized that I was treading through water. Oh no! I thought. What has happened? Removing the screen that the tanks stood behind, cold water hit me in the face and continued shooting everywhere.
Quickly, I called my daughter's cellphone number, and my son-in-law instructed me to throw the breakers for the well pump, the pressure tank, and the hot water tank. The spraying water ceased.
Shortly thereafter, a friend who had been contacted arrived to help sort out the problem. The cold-water pipe had broken where it came up through the floor from the basement. Consequently, the spraying resulted from all this energy being diverted from its proper course through the pipe into my face and the surrounding area. Providentially, I had arrived at the house within moments of the pipe's breaking, which prevented a major flooding catastrophe.
As I considered this incident and all that unregulated energy flow, I contemplated how my own energy is directed and put to use every day. How much of it is channelled for Christ and His kingdom, and how much of it is simply being sprayed about in purposeless diversions? These are not diversions that we would term sinful, but they are diversions all the same, and they allow me to procrastinate in doing all that I could be doing in regard to running my race diligently for Christ.
I put off making that phone call, or typing that email, or sending that card that I know I should. I put off spending time in prayer or writing or visiting that friend because I have become entangled in a novel or that new television series. I decide not to go church as I have other things that I would rather do that may be more exciting. I choose not to speak up for right when opportunity asserts itself because I am afraid or simply don't want to place myself in the light of criticism or condemnation.
There are so many little things that entangle me and pull me back from running as diligently as I could for Jesus — things that hinder me, and sin that I may not even recognize. These things I pray that God will empower me to want to throw off, so that I might run with perseverance the race marked out for me — not just some days, but every day.
How about you? Where is your energy going to be directed today?
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the energy with which You bless each and every one of us. Empower us today to be successful in allowing You to direct it toward the works of Your kingdom. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
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Thank you.
Well told and chilling, Lynne. Memorable. Thank you.
Thanks Lynne, may you have a wonderful day. Blessings.
Thanks, Lynne, for this encouragement to do the right thing at the right time.
Thanks, Lynne. You always have such interesting life experiences with a great spiritual application.
Hi Lynne,
Thanks so much for this very compelling reflection.
Blessings on your day.
So true, Lynne! We need to guard our time wisely, it’s so challenging but very important
to keep our focus on God. Many thanks!
Thank you, Lynne, for sharing this challenging but instructive devotional with us. May we focus our attention and efforts on God’s will and not our own. Blessings.
OH LYNNE that sounded so much like my own life and behaviour. Thank you, thank you — been there, done that. I pray with you!! and will reread your message.
(NS)
I enjoy your devotions and always find a “takeaway” nugget that I can apply to my life. Always meant to tell you how much I appreciated your devotion on “the driver’s seat” where your dog insisted on sitting there, it had so many applications to my life. That wisdom comes back to me from time to time when I need it. Thanks.
How true, Lynne! Last night, I sat up late, playing a silly game on my phone!
Bless you for sharing this with us; one of these incidents that’s unhinging at the time but makes a good story after! Cold water in the face is a bit Laurel and Hardy!
May God bless you gently today, and give you “the peace that passes understanding”.
Dear Lynne,
Many thanks for another of your excellent devotional writings. Very good advice for us to be mindful of where we let our thoughts and energies go in the day and to be more determined to focus on God’s will and direction. You do such a special way of correlating life happenings with the Lord’s word and teachings through your writings. Many blessings to you.
Thank you, Lynne,
I can relate to this from the essence of what we have to do with regard to my wife’s father who is 96 and now in care but wants to go home to his condo and my brother-in-law who has health issues which affect his ability to deal with things in his life which he needs to deal with. All of this leaves a lot of responsibility on us which includes going through everything in the Condo and determining what to do with so many different things so we can get it ready to sell.
Thank you for sharing and blessings be with you and upon you and your family this day and every day.
Good morning, Lynne
Good question, where is my, limited, energy directed today? I contacted a couple of people yesterday who had lost a brother and the day before talked for a long time to a friend about the death of her father, who was a very good friend of mine. Also yesterday I worked on a message for the local church here, as the Minister will be away and there is a shortage of pulpit supply people, even though I had decided that I could or would not do that anymore.
Today is “wide Open” apart from cutting the grass at the front and the back of the house. Perhaps something of a spiritual nature will manifest itself later on.
Thank you for your good words to think about
Blessings
There is no doubt about it we seem to direct our energy on the daily things.
Good morning, Lynne,
Good timing and good hearing. Your energy at that time was being directed to light the wood stove and you saved a bigger problem and a huge headache.
I hear your message clearly and understand the importance of running a good race for Jesus. I also believe that God does give us down time which we need to gather our thoughts and clear our minds, in order that we can direct our energy according to His will.
This is just my thoughts on your devotional and wonder if you are being a little hard on yourself when you wrote these words. Or maybe I don’t have the right focus that God wants me to have.
Something to ponder and for me to pray and talk to God about.
Wishing you many blessings today and lots of energy.
Good Morning, Lynne –
Thank you for your words of wisdom.
Good morning, Lynne, you just hit another one out of the park!
An amazing message this morning. I ALWAYS enjoy your devotionals.
God’s providence, a daily event, whether we connect the dots or not.
Procrastination, guilty on all charges. Sometimes it is guilt, sometimes it is a head that is trying to balance too much at an advanced age. Guilty nonetheless.
Blessings.