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Fixing The Chair
Devotional for Wednesday, June 7, 2006 by Rod Marshall
Proverbs 3:5-8 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (ESV)One of the things one finds out in building a computer is the necessity of loading the software and reinstalling files. As a result, my office chair, which I had acquired as an unwanted cast-off from work, has been -- given my bodily pre-disposition -- under some heavy use.
After a concerted effort of several hours sitting at my desk, it became evident why this chair had been thrown out, as my aching body will gladly testify. So, having finished the computer assembly, and whilst I was in the Mister-Fix-It mode, I attempted to fix the chair.
I had a bright idea! I could use some large carwash sponges that were about four inches thick to pad the chair seat and make it more forgiving to the user.
Oh! How wrong can one be! Having re-upholstered the chair, I found that the sponges were insufficient. They squashed down into hard lumps, and ironically made the seat even more painful to sit on for any length of time!
As I turned the chair upside down to reupholster it with some denser sponges, it occurred to me that there was something else nibbling away at my consciousness. I reviewed my task and realized that I had attempted a quick fix because I had just wanted it done, now!
This event suddenly spoke to me about my not resting in God. I have been tempted to want to work my own quick fix in the world. I now realize that this has been because I am impatient for me to fix my circumstances -- now! Such an attitude betrays a lack of trust in His love for me and my circumstances. I have now re-learnt that God wants the job to reseat our lives done properly, with Him being central in the process.
Prayer: Lord, we are once more hard-pressed by the world to conform to its desires and expectations, to put ourselves outside of Your will. Please forgive us our sins, including our lack of trust and patience, and reinstall into our hearts Your joy of fellowship, praise, and worship. We come in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Rod Marshall <rmarshall@glos.ac.uk>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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Today's Music:
There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing.