Devotions for the Distracted HeartSample

Day 7 - The Distraction Of Disturbances 

As I was sitting outside one cool morning, my quiet time was disturbed by honking and splashing in the pond behind our house. I looked up to see some Canada geese squabbling and flapping their wings. Their commotion was annoying and a disruption to my devotions, but I found myself giving in to the distraction.

It was spring and the geese were returning to their summer ponds. We always watched for the arrival of the mama and papa geese, in hopes they would build a nest and we’d witness the development of the little fluffball goslings. This year, it appeared there were two couples vying for the same pond.  As soon as the intruding couple approached the water, the resident male quickly paddled towards them, flapped his wings, and squawked until they took off. If that wasn’t enough, he carried the conflict into the air. Once the intruders left, he returned to his mate and they swam peacefully around the pond.

As this comical scene consumed my attention, I marveled at the complexities of God’s creation.  I was reminded of how Christ’s ministry was filled with disruptions and distractions. The children approaching him in a crowd, the man lowered into the house while he was teaching, even the bleeding woman who reached out and touched his cloak. He never responded with frustration and said, “Really? This isn’t the right time! I have places to go and people to see. This is going to put me behind schedule.”

Instead, He stopped immediately and demonstrated compassion, healing, and understanding. That morning, I learned two lessons through the antics of the geese. The first was to slow down and appreciate the intricacies of God’s creation. The other was to realize that disruptions are often an occasion to recognize and possibly demonstrate God’s love. It may not be convenient, but in Christ’s ministry, hardly any of His interactions were convenient.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for using disturbances in my life to gain my attention. Teach me to understand Your purpose, focus on Your will, and obey. 

Amen.

Discussion and Journaling Questions:

Jesus calls each of us to love Him with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. When I was distracted by the geese, that disruption actually increased my awareness of God’s presence. How might you redirect your attention and focus when faced with an unexpected disturbance?

We hope this devotional has helped you grow closer to God over the past 7 days. To receive a free monthly devotion along with scripture memes, please see https://pegarnold.org