Straying Away

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy

I feel horrible! Terrible! Dry and empty! Why? Because my times with you aren't right anymore. They're rushed, they seem like just a part (or rather, You seem like just a part, instead of the whole) and they feel empty, void of any substance at all. It's because they (You) aren't my main focus. Please forgive me. And please help me out. I keep seeing this problem come up, but I keep falling back into it anyway!

I'm so fed up with it, and I just want it over, destroyed, ended. It's just that things keep seeming to hold more appeal; more fun. They seem more interesting.

I don't want to hurt You. I really don't mean to. You know all this already. Please help me return to simplicity in You. Please help me keep every part of me focused on You - my mind that so often wanders in prayer or Bible reading, my heart which wants to hold other things in higher regard than they ought to be (than You).

Lord, if You don't help me, who will? You're my God, my Rock, my only Source of strength. So help me to stick to You and with You. Help me enjoy You and not hesitate when they say "let us go to the house of the Lord."

Thank You.
In Jesus' Name

Amen!

Pride and Humility

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I noticed something while I was singing to You with the guitar. When I keep my focus on You, I play the song properly, but if I start to imagine performing and what people will think (and so my aim is no longer to please You) then I start messing up. I think (actually, I know) that applies to all of life. When we keep our eyes on You and humbly do stuff solely to please You, You help us and we get it done right, but if our aim is to impress people or draw attention to how good we are at something or other, pride can easily step in and make the whole thing crash.

Proverbs 18:12

Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.