Before cell phones people used an item called an alarm clock. When traveling, instead of an alarm clock, they often relied on a wake up call from the front desk of the hotel they were staying in. The wake up call served an important purpose. It made sure the traveler continued his journey in a timely manner. Without it precious time would be lost as they slept, their destination still far away.
My wake up call was of a different sort. I haven't been asleep, I have been busy. Too busy in fact. Too busy to slow down and spend time in devotion to Him. Too busy for prayer. Too busy to write. My wake up call was a call to stop and re-evaluate my priorities.
Last week one of my dearest friends had a cancer scare. The breast cancer they thought was gone was possibly now in her lungs. As I prayed for her I began to question the usefulness of my prayers. Though my faith reassured me that God was listening, I began to consider the question...why should He? I have not been seeking Him lately, I have been too busy to take the time. Why then should He take up His time to listen to me?
Today I began a new daily devotional called "Jesus Calling." The devotional was recommended by the same friend I had been praying for. The words had spoken to her, and He had carried her, during those scary few days before it was discovered that the cancer was not back as they had feared. The passage I read today opened my eyes even more to the importance of making the time to focus on God. Based on John 4:23-24 and Psalm 100:4, were the following words.
Your praise and thanksgiving are distinctly audible in heaven. Your petitions are also heard, but it is your gratitude that clears the way to My Heart. With the way between us wide open, My blessings fall upon you in rich abundance.
Young, Sarah (2004-10-12). Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (p. 196). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
My resolve is to keep that path clear. To take time out of my busy life and devote time to things of worth and meaning. And to Him.
~Marla
I have been blessed with meeting some wonderful Christian women where I volunteer. Some have been through unimaginable struggles in their lives, but God has used those to grow them into loving, giving people. Any one of them could be an inspiration to others. I am truly humbled to know them. One woman in particular has a gift of reaching into God's Word and sharing those words in a way that really makes one aware of His glory. She leads a short devotion before we leave to serve, and it never fails to lift me up.
A fascinating thing I noticed during my first devotion with this group, was her Bible. I have never seen a more marked up Bible in my life! Different colors of highlights, areas underlined in different colors, circled, bracketed and notes to the side. It is amazing to see! Yes, I mark my own Bible...but it is more the occasional scripture...though James does appear a little more marked up than the other books. James...that is telling, isn't it? I began to realize the difference lies in how we read and study God's Word. She is digging deep, looking at how each passage relates to her life, how she can incorporate His Message into her everyday walk. I, on the other hand, am skimming the surface, latching onto verses that are easy to understand and apply to my particular situation. Verses I can easily bring to mind and find quickly as I scan through my Bible.
My way of using my Bible is fine...for a newer Christian. But I am over 34 years old in my Christian walk. And this is as far as I have come? It has been a wake up call for me. No, you do not have to have a marked up Bible to be a mature Christian, to be deep into the Word. But I am a marker, and my Bible should reflect that. I want to open my Bible and see the colors and markings of a well used, worn friend. Not marks meant only to lift me up or speak to me occasionally. And so, I am challenging myself to dig deeper, to search more thoroughly the wonderful gift God has given us in His Word.
Thank you dear friend for sharing your marked up Bible with me.
Blessings ~Marla
