Daily Devotionals
Monday, December 16, 2024 (Mary Ann)
Connectivity
Sometimes I wish my life produced more subjects for devotionals.
Sometimes I don’t.
A week ago, after work, then a meeting, then home to get ready for our RCC Bible study, I looked in my purse for my phone. I had silenced it during the meeting, so I hadn’t been cut off from all humanity very long, but now I needed to reconnect.
It wasn’t there. It wasn’t in any pocket. It wasn’t in the car. It wasn’t anywhere back at work. I retraced every step I had taken since the meeting … TWICE. I couldn’t call anyone because … well now really, how could I? I drove to a friend’s house but who could I call? I mean how many phone numbers do we carry in our heads anymore? So I drove to a co-worker’s house and had her call the person I sat next to in the meeting to see if she or anyone else had picked up my phone. Long story mercifully short, after I had silenced my phone, I accidentally dropped it into her purse, not mine.
Why oh why do I bore you with my life?
Because my anxiety and that feeling of utter helplessness made me realize how dependent I am on that little android. And by following that realization down the mental road a bit, I wondered why — and now confess — I don’t get that frantic when I back away from connectivity with my Heavenly Father. Even knowing that when I do disconnect, those inevitable feelings of anxiety and helplessness will descend, I do it over and over. Maybe you too?
Well it’s Christmas. Time to celebrate Jesus. God knew that even as believers, we’d fail over and over … and over. So he became human — Emmanuel, God with us — to demonstrate his love for us and his desire for a personal connection with us. The good news is that his connectivity plan cannot be equaled or revoked. Consider these features:
Unlimited data. We have the very Word of God, the Bible, written for us. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
Unlimited minutes. God listens 24/7. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15
Cosmic coverage. God loves and cares for us EVERYWHERE. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10
Open-arms restoration when communication is interrupted. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Eternal guarantee. And this is the promise that he made to us — eternal life. 1 John 2:25
$0 payment plan. For it is my grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
We have much to celebrate, don’t we? So blessings on you, dear tribe, and merry Christmas! Oh, and do stay in touch! :-)
Mary Ann
Sometimes I wish my life produced more subjects for devotionals.
Sometimes I don’t.
A week ago, after work, then a meeting, then home to get ready for our RCC Bible study, I looked in my purse for my phone. I had silenced it during the meeting, so I hadn’t been cut off from all humanity very long, but now I needed to reconnect.
It wasn’t there. It wasn’t in any pocket. It wasn’t in the car. It wasn’t anywhere back at work. I retraced every step I had taken since the meeting … TWICE. I couldn’t call anyone because … well now really, how could I? I drove to a friend’s house but who could I call? I mean how many phone numbers do we carry in our heads anymore? So I drove to a co-worker’s house and had her call the person I sat next to in the meeting to see if she or anyone else had picked up my phone. Long story mercifully short, after I had silenced my phone, I accidentally dropped it into her purse, not mine.
Why oh why do I bore you with my life?
Because my anxiety and that feeling of utter helplessness made me realize how dependent I am on that little android. And by following that realization down the mental road a bit, I wondered why — and now confess — I don’t get that frantic when I back away from connectivity with my Heavenly Father. Even knowing that when I do disconnect, those inevitable feelings of anxiety and helplessness will descend, I do it over and over. Maybe you too?
Well it’s Christmas. Time to celebrate Jesus. God knew that even as believers, we’d fail over and over … and over. So he became human — Emmanuel, God with us — to demonstrate his love for us and his desire for a personal connection with us. The good news is that his connectivity plan cannot be equaled or revoked. Consider these features:
Unlimited data. We have the very Word of God, the Bible, written for us. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
Unlimited minutes. God listens 24/7. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15
Cosmic coverage. God loves and cares for us EVERYWHERE. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10
Open-arms restoration when communication is interrupted. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Eternal guarantee. And this is the promise that he made to us — eternal life. 1 John 2:25
$0 payment plan. For it is my grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
We have much to celebrate, don’t we? So blessings on you, dear tribe, and merry Christmas! Oh, and do stay in touch! :-)
Mary Ann
