Lessons learned from a misplaced devotional

A couple of years ago I found something I had lost. That year I was using the classic devotion “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. I usually take time each morning for Scripture reading and prayer, so I had read through this devotional each day that year and had marked up my copy of this book.

But somewhere around the middle of October, my copy of this devotional came up missing. I left home early one day and did not get a chance to read and pray before I left, so I had brought my devotional with me. I thought I might have left it at a pastor’s meeting in Anchorage. It wasn’t there. I looked in my office. It wasn’t there. I looked at home. It wasn’t there. Finally I started using Kathy’s copy, but did not mark her book with my notes. So after about a week I bought another copy.

Then one day I was sitting at Noel’s hair salon getting my hair cut by church member Donna Rustin. As I was sitting in the chair I looked across the room at a shelf with books on it for customers to read. On that shelf I saw something that looked familiar. In fact, it was not only the size and color of my missing book, but it was dirty in similar places. (I had taken it hunting.) After my haircut was finished I walked over and discovered my devotional, with all my lost prayer lists as well.

Life is full of trials. I find it necessary to be strengthened daily by God to face those trials. That is why I take time each morning for Bible reading and prayer. This time lets God remind me he loves me in Jesus, in spite of my sin and failures. This time lets me give my worries and concerns and plans to the Lord, and lets him guide (if I don’t get in the way). This time in God’s word prepares me for whatever unknown is coming that day.

Ephesians 2 talks about being part of God’s church and built on the foundation of God’s word. “You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

Actually, the day I had the blessing of finding my old devotional book was the same day my mom took a turn for the worse in the hospital. I am sure that the foundation of God’s word helped me and the rest of our family face the realities of life in this world. We all know the struggle of sin and that all face death in this world because of our sin. But the good news of God is that Jesus has overcome our sin through his life and death and rising again. I knew those truths about my mom. What a blessing to begin each day on that foundation.

I only have one question: do you ever misplace things like I do?

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Contact him at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.

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