Dear Ones,
Hope you are keeping nice and warm. It was -17 this morning and a cold trip to Aldi’s. Glad I can stay in the rest of the day. I have been busy in my kitchen and enjoyed Donut day and this afternoon we have Bible Study here.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
The Lord is always calling us back to Himself, to draw us closer to Him. Perhaps we all find times we seem to wander off on our own, forgetting He is most important and Number One. When we veer off doing our own thing, we sometimes get an abrupt awakening as something happens that jolts us, like sickness or loss of something important to us. We may also run ahead of the Lord and jump into things that He has not fully prepared us for; so, life becomes more difficult than needs to be.
As I was having my devotions, I read how God used Hosea to call the people of Israel back to God, telling them God wanted their steadfast love not sacrifices. He wants our hearts as well, not our busy activity that leaves no time to actually spend moments with Him.
It reminds me of the dad who is always working but leaves no time to actually spend with his family. But the truth is that his family desires his presence more than his gifts. It is much like the little girl who saved up her money to buy some of her daddy’s time. She knew how much he made an hour so saved up enough for a few minutes of his time. When she broke her piggy bank and gave him the money she had, it was a wake-up call for him; he wept and hugged her, as he realized his daughter really craved daddy time with him and he resolved to do so in the future.
Joel also says in Joel 2:12, “Yet even now, declares the Lord, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.’” We can give money, service and gifts to the Lord but He is really after our hearts. Joel goes on to say that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Let us not delay any longer but return fully to Him.
Challenge for today: Spend quiet time alone with the Lord and share your heart with Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy