Daily Devotional for April 13, 2023

Shannon and I have horses.  Let me restate that.  Shannon has horses.  I have cows.

I am not a big horse person, but Shannon loves them.  So, whenever she gets really mad at me, I buy her a horse to save our marriage.

She’s gotten mad at me six times.

Because of Shannon’s hip replacement surgery, I have been the one taking care of the horses while she goes stir-crazy in our house.  To tell you how bad it’s gotten, last week, Shannon gave me a course of instruction on how to clean out a horse stall.

Even though my first job at fifteen years old was cleaning out horse stalls, I decided, for my own personal safety, to politely listen as she made sure I knew the proper way to shovel horse poop.

The upside to me being forced to take care of the horses is I have become very fond of a young filly named Firefly.  She’s also grown fond of me.

Tuesday night, after I got home from a meeting at the church, I decided it would be good for Shannon’s soul if she got to spend time with her horses.  I put her in the pickup and drove down to the corral where Firefly was having the best time running around, neighing at the top of her lungs because she knew it was time for her evening feeding.

After getting Shannon out of the truck and into the corral, I went to the barn for Firefly’s grain.  At that moment, Shannon noticed something I didn’t.  

As I walked next to the fence, Firefly followed me.  When I walked to the gate, Firefly followed me.  When I walked into the corral, Firefly followed me.  Wherever I went, Firefly was one step behind me.  Even when she was eating feed, as I started to walk away, she followed me.

This got me thinking.

The reason Firefly wanted to be near me is because she knows I am the one who provides her food, and every night, I am the one who brushes her.  And while Shannon may be her owner, Firefly associates being taken care of with me.  She wants to be with me.

Did you know today, God has taken care of you?

The oxygen you breathe, the food you eat, and everything else you rely upon for sustenance and life, ultimately comes from God.  Don’t you want to be with Him?

The way to draw closer to our loving God is by living the life he designed for each of us, praying, reading scripture, attending worship, tithing, and always being on the lookout for the ways God speaks to us.

When we do this, we are intentionally drawing closer to the most important One in our lives.  It’s the best way to live.

This is what James meant by saying, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”  (James 4:8)

God wants to hold us close.  It’s our choice.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, please help me make you the center of my existence.  I know all the good in my life comes from you.  Let me draw closer to you.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Firefly knows I am the one who butters her toast.  She wants to be with me.

Christians know the One who butters our toast.  We want to be with God.

Also, just for the record, I believe the reason Firefly was much more interested in me than Shannon is horses know who has a pure soul.  

Just saying.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins