Daily Devotional

When I was thirty-five years old something happened that changed my perspective forever about my devotion to God.

One morning I felt convicted about giving God my leftovers of time for prayer, worship, and reading Scripture. I blamed the distractions in my life...Including my children…five of them. My precious distractions. I snuggled down in the chair with my cup of coffee hoping for a few moments in God’s Word before the kids woke up.

A moment later, one of my kids began crying. Begrudgingly, I left my coffee and Bible to check on my daughter.  I was shocked to see…my daughter had chickenpox!  Checked the other girls…they also had chickenpox! With trepidation, I checked my two foster sons in the next room.  All five kids, ages 1yr–8yrs old had chickenpox!  Over the next couple of days, one of my girls began hallucinating.  She was so sick the doctor was considering hospitalizing her.  Fortunately, she began to improve.  

During this time my husband, Jim, was away on a missionary trip in the Philippines. Thankfully he was due back the next day.  I was so looking forward to his help. Jim walked in the door looking flushed and miserable. His temperature was 104. He was shaking like he had malaria. I managed to call around and find a friend to come stay with my five sick kids so I could take my husband to the ER. Although it was not confirmed for ten days, Jim was infected by a parasite while he was in the Philippines.  After tests and labs were done, Jim was given antibiotics and sent home to join our five sick kids. I now had six people to take care of.  

During this crazy, demanding time I prayed constantly. “God help my kids get better.” “God I am so worried about my strong hubby.  He looks so frail!” “God help me be patient, loving.” “God I am so tired.” Basically, I kept a running conversation with God in prayer. Then as everyone improved, I found myself switching from desperate prayers to praising God…over and over.

After the crisis was over, I gladly sat again in my comfy chair with a cup of coffee and Bible.  I contemplated all that had happened. I came to a very important conclusion.

Taking care of my family during this time was one of the most concentrated times of prayer and praise I had ever experienced. I actually had more conversation with God during this trying time than the fifteen-minute quiet time with my coffee each morning.

It dawned on me…including God in the distraction converted the distraction into a time of devotion to God! It was a rich relationship-building time with God. Devotion was not just about my quiet time that I was always fighting for and feeling guilty about when it did not work out. This conclusion was monumental to me. Every crazy, unexpected distraction can be turned into a time of devotion to God…if I include God in the moment.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation