A deliberate effort

“Tell me, what did you do today?”, Hans asked his son, Jeffrey, after they had eaten dinner.

“I watched Bumpy Donkey”, four-year-old Jeffrey replied.

“Good. Did Mum read your Bible to you?”, Hans further asked. “Yes”, Jeffrey quipped.

“So, who did you read about?”

“Esther”

“What did she do?”

“She went to the king”. “Yes?”, Hans encouraged him to continue.

“She was not afraid”. “OK?”, Hans urged him on again.

“I don’t care what will happen. I will save my people. That’s what she said”, Jeffrey explained.

“Wow, great. Does that mean you should not be afraid?”, Hans questioned

“Yes. Mum said God makes me strong and brave”, Jeffrey replied.

Rachael overheard the father-and-son conversation as she prepared meals for the next day.

“Well-done Jeff”, she shouted from the kitchen. What did you read from the Bible today?, a voice within Rachael questioned.  

She slept very late the previous night and only jumped out of bed when her alarm beeped for the fourth time. She was not able to pray or read the bible. But Jeff would always look at the pictures in his bible and ask her to read the words – a routine they had somewhat established.

Rachael did not read her bible that day. Nor the previous day, or the day before that. As a result of busy schedules, she struggles to find time for meaningful prayer and study of the bible. 

The world is constantly calling our attention to various things that can quickly fill up our days. We have to make a deliberate effort to spend time with God in prayers and reading the Bible. That is how we build our relationship with God. That is how we are strengthened to face the struggles of each day. That is how we learn to overcome.

“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

“I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (Psalms 119:16).

“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalms 19:10).

Dear Lord, there are so many things to do each day. Help us to manage our time wisely and avoid unnecessary distractions so we can spend quality time with you in Jesus name. Amen!