We continue emptying cupboards, sorting out and re-packing things in different cupboards. Remember the bread we made? The bread machine failed to mix the dough for pizza. I called the supplier of the Mellerware Bread Maker this morning. The lady was friendly and helpful. I explained what the problem is and immediately she said the belt that drives the agitator had perished due to not being used for years. It made sense. The belt is made from a rubber mixture and when stationary for years it loses its composition and perishes. The good news is that the machine can be repaired for R120 (the belt) plus R60 for labour. The bad news is that they can only repair the bread maker after the lock downs ends! I had created a spot in the passage cupboard for the bread maker, so that once repaired we can get at it easily to make bread and dough.
How did I know this lady knew what she was talking about? When I tried the bread maker out this morning, there was a sound like an agitator trying to move, and once I lifted the bread maker up to pack it away I found rubber crumbs underneath it. She was right.
When you don’t feed your soul for a long period, your morals, thought pattern and actions disintegrate like the bread maker’s belt.
It’s very easy during lock down to neglect your daily routine, including your daily devotions. What do I mean by daily devotions? I mean taking up your Bible and Bible Aids and spending time refreshing your soul, doing your Bible Readings, praying and reading Christian material that will feed your soul and challenge your morals, thought pattern and actions.
Neglect in this area might not reflect an immediate change. Spiritual sliding starts slowly and only becomes evident through noticing the little things, like sinful thinking and desires, even though these are internal and could easily be overlooked. After some time, the thinking and desires could affect one’s actions and behaviour. The horrible result, apart from dishonoring God, is that spiritual declension could set in and depression could follow … serious depression.
How does one prevent this spiritual declension, spiritual decline, and spiritual wandering?
Our Lord and Master set the very best example for His followers. We read in Mark 1 verse 35:
Mk 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
And then, David in the famous Psalm 119 says:
Ps 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, O LORD, teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Jesus sets before us the method of prayer. Get out of bed early in the morning and find a quiet place to have uninterrupted engagement with the Father.
David shows how important the Bible is. Seek God in His Word, commit yourself to hold fast to God’s commands and hide God’s Word in your heart. Then, your life will be pure, you’ll stop sinning against God and praise and rejoicing will replace depression. Praise and rejoicing will permeate your life because you mediate on, delight in and refuse to neglect God’s Word.
Lord, help me to be faithful with my daily devotions, preventing me from straying and wandering from You for Jesus sake. Amen.