Meditation

Read Isaiah 48:17-19

If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.—Isaiah 48:18 (NIV)

My family and I live close to the Gulf of Mexico. I love walk along the beautiful beaches of white sands and emerald green water. When I see and hear the waves of the ocean crashing on the sand, I feel incredible peace and joy at being so close to nature and to God. I often say to my husband, “We should come here every day.” But despite the beach’s proximity, we rarely go. The responsibilities of work, home, and family take up most of our time. We forgo the natural beauty of the shoreline to walk around our neighborhood, often following the same path each day. While our neighborhood is lovely, it does not compare to the seashore or to the peace that I find there.

My spiritual life is similar. Like the ocean, God is always nearby. God is only a prayer away regardless of my location, yet I often forget to read the Bible or visit with God. When I don’t make spending time with God a priority, I miss our on the peace and wisdom that comes from daily Bible study.

Fortunately, each day brings a new opportunity to choose the peace and well-being God offers through praying and reading the Bible. The gift of God’s power and peace comes when we choose to devote ourselves to time with God ahead of everything else.

Prayer: Dear God, teach us what is best for us, and direct us in the way we should go. Amen.

Thought for the day: I can renew my mind when I spend time with God each day.

—Cathy Lee Taylor, Florida