Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (ESV)

Zoë usually walks to her nearby school. In the gloomy month of December, she went off in too much hurriedness, and in the process, she forgot her watch. A few minutes after she left, I noticed it on the bathroom radiator. So, being a dad, I rushed out to the car, drove up the road to catch her, pulled over, and handed her the wristwatch to put on. She took it, and off I went back home.

A simple little story, but further to this, I was not one hundred percent myself either. Being under the weather, I had gone out to the car, and in my haste, I had forgotten to put on my glasses. As a result, everything in the distance was a blur. I was not going far, and my eyesight is not that bad, so I thought that I would keep going to catch her before Zoë arrived at a busy junction further up the road.

Having succeeded in my mission, I did a U-turn in a nearby cul-de-sac and was about to pull out, when out of the gloom, a car came near. All I could see were the headlight beams, and without my glasses, my vision was blurred. I could not easily judge the speed of the car, so I did the sensible thing, waited until the car had passed, and then went back home. Phew! On my return, I headed straight for my glasses and put them on. Then, I set about getting Sophia off to her primary school, driving to where we used to live. Rush, rush, rush.

On the way back home, as I sat in the lines of rush-hour traffic, I had a moment to reflect upon how all too often I forget to find time in the morning to receive God's focus for life's little journeys before I rush out into the day. Not putting time aside for the influence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit's perspective on my life has caused my decision-making to become a bit blurred. Danger lurks, all because my focus is a bit hazy through the influence of the world and my natural selfishness. I have not re-aligned my thoughts in tune with God and His Word. Yes, reading the Bible at the start of the day is a good place to invite the presence of Jesus in to quiet our rushing about. However, I have found that it requires a submissive heart and a willing attitude to allow the Holy Spirit's influence on and into our thoughts and beings.

Today, let's take advantage of the benefits that come from focusing on the love of God for us. We can do this even in the rushing about by taking a moment — in a queue, in a waiting room, or during a lunch break. Our God knows us and wants to bring His influence to bear in us and with us when we call on Him in prayer. To me, rushing into the day without a thought for God is like leading with the chin: sooner or later it will end in tears, so why do it?

Prayer: Lord, here we are again, rushing in before Your throne like children who know that they have not complied with a call as fast as they could have done. You are worthy of more praise and thanks than we have been troubled to give. We have no excuse, but Your nature is to have mercy, and as our Father, You are always passionate to receive us with open arms through Jesus' invitation. May we find acceptance, rest for our souls, and peace in our hearts by being in Your presence. Then, as we give You honour and affirm Your lordship over us, grant our minds a godly wisdom for what lies in the day ahead. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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