Tuesday’s Devotion: Lost Routines

Isaiah 26:3-4 He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord always, for in the Lord, Jehovah, is your everlasting strength.

Last week it seemed that the forces were conspiring against me to prevent me from taking my morning walk.  It rained, I had early meetings, I felt pressured to get on into the office and work on End of Year Reports. Sunday afternoon Joe walked, I took a nap being just too tired to get out there. I’ve discovered that once I get out of the habit of getting out there, it takes more effort to make myself do it. For many people that’s the same with other aspects of life. You miss church a couple of Sundays for legitimate reasons then just slip out of the routine of faithful attendance.  The same could be with prayer and Bible reading.  We do it regularly, and then when something interrupts our routine we fall away.  Whether we’re walking for exercise or walking with the Lord, they are both necessary to our health and wholeness.  As we approach Lent lets resolve to be more faithful in our spiritual disciplines. While it might be nice to give up chocolate for Lent it would be even better to take up something that will help us be stronger individuals.

Lord, help us please to be more faithful in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, study and worship.  We need your encouragement every day to help us to do the right thing. We ask in Christ’s name. Amen.

God Bless,

Paige

Tuesday's Devotion: Use It or Lose It!

Proverbs 14:23  All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

My title is from an old saying but it certainly rings true.  Studies have shown that seniors who engage in activities that work their minds, like playing solitaire and other strategy games can improve their mental alertness.  The same goes for our bodies.  I hope that by living in a house that requires me to go up and down stairs frequently, I will retain my ability to climb stairs.  Many of my church members cannot get up if they have a fall. I regularly sit on the floor and get up without holding onto anything.  It may not be a pretty sight but I make it with relative ease. Use it or lose it!  What about our relationship with God?  I believe we must stay in touch with God or slowly our spirituality will be supplanted by worldly preoccupations.  Someone once used the illustration of a flashlight.  If you put it away in a drawer the batteries will eventually corrode then when the lights go out, it won’t be there to guide you.  I hope you regularly give your mind and your body a regular workout but even more I hope you work on staying in relationship with your divine creator. 

Gracious and Holy God, I pray that you will keep us healthy in mind, body and spirit.  That you will put a hedge of protection around us and that you will help us resist temptations that would lead us beyond your will for our lives.  We ask in Jesus name. Amen.