I asked my wife, Pamela, “So how did I do on the telephone?” Her response pierced me to the heart. “Not so well if you are trying to follow Jesus.” I had been on the telephone for three hours with airline personnel in the midst of a snowstorm trying to help a friend flying from Europe to the United States.

I thought I had a good excuse for my harsh words – they were being difficult and I was helping a friend. However, my harsh and biting words revealed something of my heart. Jesus tells me that as I follow Him my words will reveal much about my heart,

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34 NIV)

The irony of this whole situation is that early that morning, sitting quietly with coffee and Bible in hand, my heart felt so close to God. For me, listening to God is so easy early in the morning – not always so easy the rest of the day. How unrealistic of me to think that God intended the living of a godly life to be anything but an all-day activity?

Maybe that is why Daniel developed the habit of pulling away to talk with God throughout the day.

Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed…. (Daniel 6:10 NIV)

Will you join me this week in talking with Jesus and following Him all day, every day?

 

Sharing the journey with you,

Bob Snyder