Sitting at my desk with my daily Scripture portion spread before me, I clear my eyes of sleep and prepare a hot cup of tea to sip. I try to corral my thoughts, but despite my efforts, they have escaped as if on stallions galloping toward the horizon.
One horse carries the worry about my car’s costly mechanical repairs. Another steed trots off with concern about serious damage to my husband’s left eye, revealed in a recent exam—which will entail continuous treatment. An acquaintance took offense at something somebody said, and a rift erupted. We know how it goes. This is life, and we must live in it. But oh how worrisome and wearisome it is. And when it interferes with that special time with the Lord, it’s so annoying.
I feel defeated and unworthy as I struggle to order my thoughts before I read His Word. If I can’t restrain them, how can I honor the Lord? My eyes glance down and catch on the words of Jesus. The issue is not about settling and resting my mind.
When Jesus says, “above all else,” He speaks of the priority of seeking God before my tasks. Jesus didn’t deny the reality of trouble—all those things bouncing around in the saddles of my galloping horses. He addresses my tendency to ask all the what ifs that take away from embracing the now and interfere with my ability to trust in Him. He suggests staying in the moment with God, trusting Him for what comes next. He is in charge of those chargers.
Suddenly, I realized I didn’t need to get my thoughts in order to read God’s Word. I needed to read it to get my thoughts in order.
How can you seek God above all else?
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and StockSnap.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Anita van der Elst finds joy in creating with words, believing God gifted her with the desire to do so. Married to her best friend, Edward, since 1976, she is a proud mom of four adult children and Oma to two of the most delightful grandchildren ever. Other joys in her life include bringing beauty to Facebook through photos she takes on her iPhone, facilitating a small women’s group at church, and mentoring a few friends who also desire to write.