Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

I lay shivering on the sofa as the itinerant nurse attached the sticky tabs to my body. Dad and I had decided to change our life insurance policy and the prerequisite was an extensive physical including an electrocardiogram - otherwise known as an EKG. This test checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart.  On cue, I stayed as still as could while the machine did its job measuring my heart's activity and recording it in spikes and dips on a long piece of paper. After it was over I asked the nurse how I did. Her response was that she was not qualified to read the results. I would have to wait for a trained technician to look at the reading. Hopefully, everything is fine. The Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 that our spiritual heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. We are all born with this sinful heart condition. Though we may not know the extent of our wretchedness, God, Who searches the heart, does. 

Why do we do what we do? In the past two days, I have had reminders of how important it is to consider your ways. It is unprofitable and sometimes downright dangerous to go through life without taking the time to exam the things we do and think. I remember hearing the story of a woman who would always cut off the end of a ham roast before baking it in the oven. One day her daughter asked why she did this. She thought for a minute and finally replied, "I do it because that is what my mother always did."   Her daughter's question got her to wondering about this family custom, so she asked her mother the purpose of cutting off the end of the ham. The answer was a complete surprise. The older lady said, "I cut the end from the ham because my roaster was never big enough to fit the whole thing."

Have you ever met an impostor? Though we don't always realize it, it happens all the time. Someone pretends to be someone or something he is not. Last night after dinner Dad told us a fascinating legend about Queen Elizabeth I of England. According to this conspiracy theory, the daughter of King Henry VIII was actually a boy. Supposedly the 10-year-old Lady Elizabeth was sent away to the country town of Bisley to protect her from a terrible plague outbreak in London. Though she was miles away, the young girl, unfortunately, contracted a fatal illness. While she lay dying in bed, her governess got word that the King was coming to visit, but before the King arrived the child died.  Knowing the King's history of violence and rage, the governess panicked and searched for a replacement. Unable to find a young girl of similar age with comparable features she did the next best thing. She found a boy who would suffice and dressed him in the girl's clothes.

Sunlight sparkled through every ice-coated branch against a backdrop of baby blue. I welcomed the warm light after days of gray seclusion during the storm. Finally free to venture out, I grabbed an obligatory pair of gloves and jumped into the car without hesitation. I couldn’t miss the thick patches of snow layered over ice on the pavement, so I slowed my pace and navigated accordingly. Confident that no hazards remained, I approached the main road at a regular rate, pressing the brake at the usual spot with the usual force in my routine. The tires locked as I slid helplessly towards the intersection on thin ice I hadn’t seen, didn’t expect, and wasn’t prepared for. We can’t be ready for every hazard on our journey, so we have to live in a state of readiness.

It was just about time to board the plane for home. I glanced at my ticket and weaved my way through the crowds to stand in Line 5. It had been an interesting weekend for me and I am sure for many of the other travelers.  I had prepared to return home on Monday, but the fickle weather did not cooperate. That evening a thick ice had settled on the roads and my flight was cancelled. I rescheduled my flight for Tuesday afternoon and now I stood waiting in the last line - Line 5 - to board the plane along with other displaced passengers. 

My favorite time of the day is early in the morning before the sun has risen. I tiptoe downstairs, put the kettle on to boil and light my pear candle. When the kettle boils I make a pot of tea and sit down to spend some time with God.  Some of my sweetest times have been in those moments before anyone else is awake. I tell Him all my concerns and soak in encouragement from His Word.  I have wrestled with difficulties and rejoiced in answered prayer.  I have had a taste of who the Lord is. I know He is good and nothing else satisfies.