DEVOTIONAL TUG-OF-WAR

I have a love/hate relationship with my daily devotionals.

OK, not a hate thing exactly – but hear me out.

I love how God so often speaks a word to me – just when I need to hear it.

I "hate" how God so often speaks a word to me – just when I need to hear it (but might not want to!)

Let me give you an example.

The other day, I was writing a post about the peace of God. I wanted to see if it flowed – so I read it out loud to my youngest son. At the end He was really quiet. (Was it that horrible, I thought to my "glass half-empty" self?)

Finally he said, "Mom, you know that leather devotional book you gave me with the leaves on the front?"

"Yeah, I remember that."

"Do you have a copy?"

"Yes, I do."

"Go check out June 4th."

So I did. It was all about the peace of God – and it had used the exact same verses that I had placed in my post. Words and verses that both my son and I really needed to hear on that particular day.

I whispered to him, "God is really awesome, isn't He?"

That's a *love my devotions* moment.

And those moments happen all the time, don't they? When a particular passage of Scripture just seems to leap out at you. When a particular message in church, or a lesson from Bible Study, is just so perfectly appropriate to where you're at – it's like God spoke out just to you…

Of course, there's the other side.

Let me give you an example of that.

I had a day last week that was full of aggravations. Dealing with frustrating family issues, and cantankerous people, and irritating phone calls – I was quite honestly just annoyed with everything and everyone. I was not feeling holy and patient. I was sick and tired of being responsible and conscientious and kind…

I wanted to be selfish – I wanted to be left alone.

That's how I went to sleep that night – in a mood. The next morning when I woke up, I wasn't feeling any different – (unless you call being even more annoyed and entrenched in my crummy attitude "different"…)

But, I went to do my devotions.

Here's how they began:

"Some people annoy us. They interrupt us when we're trying to concentrate, ignore us when we need their help, or give us unwanted advice. Sometimes, the best we can do is tolerate them. Tolerating people, however, isn't loving them, and God has set a high standard for us in relationships – especially in the family of God…"

Can you see God's timely irony?

I looked up at the ceiling, and said with a sigh –

"God, will You just leave me alone?"

(Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to be convicted, you know??)

But He answered me, just as clear as if He had spoken it aloud –

"No, I love you too much."

So, you see, I love my devotions when they're a timely word of encouragement, or comfort, or inspiration, or peace.

And though I might "hate" my devotions when they convict me, or challenge me, or discipline me – I actually love those, too.

For in it all, God is speaking – sometimes in a way that's just so perfectly appropriate to where I'm at – it's like God spoke out just to me.

And praise His name – He never leaves me alone…

No, He loves me too much for that!

(Today I'm linked with Wendy at Faith's Firm Foundation)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"