ON THE PORCH
JULY 24, 2022
OFF TRACK
A little thought here, a tiny bite there, just this one more thing added to my schedule, then I’ll stop…
Since we are basically in a drought, I thought I’d do something sweet for Benny Saturday morning and start the sprinkler while it was still a tiny bit cool, and we didn’t have wind yet. He was at the station and has had trouble keeping up with the 100 degrees plus heat we’ve had. I got it all set up, turned the water on and went about my business.
After doing a few things outside I noticed it had turned and was facing the wrong way. Now, how that happened, I can’t tell you. It was moving the opposite direction I started it on and was trying to pull the water hose behind it instead of walking along the hose. The dogs don’t like getting wet, so I know they weren’t playing with it. The wind wasn’t blowing, and the sprinkler weighs a ton. I turned it around, set it back on the path and straightened the layout of the hose just in case that was the problem.
I had a couple zoom calls, so I didn’t talk to Benny until he called later to see how my morning went. I wanted to pat myself on the back for lugging that big thing around and “doing him a favor,” even though I enjoy the grass, too. I shot him a picture and told him about the earlier fiasco. In the middle of this little “give me an atta-boy,” I looked out and realized the stupid little tractor had jumped ship again. It was determined to get off the hose line today. Benny laughed and said it had never done that to him before.
I thought about the way this morning’s pictures relate to my heart and how often this happens in my own life. A little tug here and a little pull there, and before I know it, I look up and I’ve gotten sidetracked and I’m totally off track.
There are so many areas of life I unintentionally deviate off the path and mess up. Sometimes, I totally turn the opposite direction and completely pull away. Other times I skip something I should do or try something I shouldn’t and inch away a little at a time. Either way, I end up stuck with nowhere else to go, and I need God’s help.
Some of my areas I tend to get off track include (but are not all):
– My filter quits working, my mouth overruns my mind, and I say things I cannot ever take back.
– I eat what I know I shouldn’t to get the tiny boost and carb high, then start hurting again and gain unnecessary weight. (To be honest, I ate a whole pint of “Half Baked” Ben & Jerry’s yesterday.)
– -I skip exercising or walking and my body gets stiff and sore.
– I don’t keep the margin in my schedule like I intend to and end up forgetting important items and feeling like I’m losing my mind.
– My thinking gets off a little here and a little there until I end up doggy paddling in the middle of “bitter lake” without a life jacket.
– I push and push some more until I am utterly exhausted, stuck, and ready to throw in the towel.
What I noticed when putting these two pictures into a collage was the water. It still flowed through the sprinkler, whether it was moving or not. It wasn’t on the track it was set up for, and the water still ran. Thank God He doesn’t give up on me and the Living Water doesn’t dry up when I sin and end up away from His best for me. The Holy Spirit continues to whisper in my ear and guide me back to the road I should be on.
**Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
God has an arsenal at His disposal to bring me back into His best for me. God might use music, circumstances, other people, or His Word. He also thinks outside the box and will get our attention through other avenues. If I am just a little off course, He might just scoot me over a little bit to get me back on track. But when I’ve completely turned the other way and need a come-to-Jesus meeting, the process ends up being more painful, like spiritual surgery. When this happens, sometimes scars are left behind because of our stubbornness.
While writing this devo and examining my own heart, God impressed on me an area in my life I need to work on. I have let this issue derail me, and instead of forgiving and moving forward, I veered off the path and allowed myself to get stuck. Let me tell you, I would rather allow Jesus to do surgery on my heart than to continue “chewing on my cud” and let my soul fester and rot. Jesus wants me in fellowship with Him, but issues like this get in the way. He chases after me because He loves me and wants me. He won’t leave me to wallow in my misery if I allow Him to help.
**”Let us examine and probe our ways and let us return to the LORD.” Lamentations 3:40
God, heart surgery hurts, but sometimes there is no way around it. When I am stubborn about continuing on my own path, doing my own thing, sometimes it is the only solution. But then…I begin to heal from the rot and decay, and You replace the bitter, nasty part with clean, healthy tissue only You have access to. If I hang onto what draws me away from You, the wound gets deeper and uglier and grows into a monster. Thank You for bringing this to my attention this morning. Thank You for fighting for my best. Give me ears to hear the voice behind me telling me where the right way is, then the discipline to take each step intentionally to walk in it. Thank You for never giving up on me and always being willing to love me and do what is necessary to keep me in Your will. I’m sorry I have hurt Your heart, LORD. Forgive me. Lead me. Show me the best way to work through this and get back on course. Amen
RECKLESS LOVE
**“Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” Proverbs 4:26-27 (NLT)
**Those who got off-track will get back on-track, and complainers and whiners learn gratitude.” Isaiah 29:24 MSG
**”But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29
**Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1
ON THE PORCH 