Devotion Unglued

    Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults,
with  distresses, with persecutions, with  difficulties, for Christ's sake;
for when I  am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10

    Sometimes the very least I do each morning as I throw my feet  to the floor is whisper a simple prayer to the Lord asking for His grace, help, guidance, and Spirit filling.  On better days, I try to read a devotional by Charles Spurgeon to help set the tone for my day, tune my ears to the right note, and set my eyes upon the greater purpose we have for living: to glorify God. Or maybe I’ll pick a chapter from Proverbs and Psalms to read. Still the best days are those rare times when I sit for hours studying His Word, writing about what He is teaching me, and praying over those I love. 

    No matter the time spent, for me, the most important aspect of my daily devotion centers around my heart's inclination and desires.  Is my  heart leaning toward the Lord?  Do I commune with Him all day long despite the stressors and interuptions of 21st century living?  Do I need Him, really need Him, and if yes, how do I best demonstrate that need?  Do I long for Him and His ways more than I long for relief and blessings?  Do I put Him first even if only by a whisper or do I tend to dismiss Him entirely? How do I show others that I live for Christ?  

    These are tough questions.  And if you find yourself exhausted just considering them, I understand!  As a Christian, there can be tremendous pressure on us to find time to get with God.  We may even feel guilty if we don't read His Word each day for x amount of time.  What I have found, however, is that guilt is not as powerful of a motivator as the thrill of coming to Him as a child.  His presence calms our hearts, His Word washes clean, and His power paves the way in the wilderness.  

    Of course, there is the discipline of being a student of the Word no matter our season--I get that.  But the benefit of coming as we are (short on time, stressed, disgruntled, distressed, persecuted, having difficulties, messy, angry, sad, or fit to be tied....) is the beauty and essence of true devotion.  We lean in toward him, our Father.   In our weakness, we find His strength.  In the day-to-day of it all, we come face to face with His grace.  And He tells us that is sufficient.