Smart Thoughts 

       As I began this new year, I opened my new Upper Room Disciplines 2008 devotional book. It is always full of daily devotionals for the entire year written by men and women from around the world. This particular devotional book is based on the Revised Common Lectionary, a set of Biblical texts for each week of the Christian year. This year there will be a passage from Matthew, a Psalm, an Old Testament reading and words from the ancient letters of disciples (mostly Paul). I have found that picking up this book is a great way to begin each day.

       I have also discovered that it is easy for things of this world (like writing Smart Thoughts) to seem to be a higher priority in a given moment and the devotional reading to be skipped for just that one time. Before I know it, there are so many things to do and so little time to get them done. One reading skipped turns into one week skipped and the “discipline” becomes “undisciplined.”

       This phenomenon is true for not only our daily devotional time, it is true for our entire spiritual life. “It won’t hurt to miss one Sunday.” “I have given enough time to the ministry of our church and others.” “I can catch up later.” “Surely there will be enough people to do that, they don’t need me.” “I don’t get anything out of Sunday School.” “I don’t have time for an in depth Bible study.”

       As I opened my Upper Room Disciplines 2008 I discovered some words of comfort and hope in the Foreward of that book. Jane Vannard quoted the Trappist monk and teacher of Centering Prayer, Father Thomas Keating. He said, “Faithfulness in prayer is the willingness to always start over.”

Whether it is prayer, Bible reading, daily devotional time, serious Biblical study or serving others, our faithfulness can come in our willingness to start over. The beginning of a new year is a time everyone thinks about starting over in some way.

The mystics tell us that in our prayer life “what matters is that faithful prayer transforms our hearts and lives.” I would expand that to say that a faithful devotional life, which includes prayer, will transform our hearts and lives. Jane Vennard gives us these words of inspiration. “...if you stay with your commitment, returning to it when you stray, you will discover your life is slowly and gently being healed and transformed by your willingness to spend regular time with your loving God.”

The first verses of Revelation 21 are familiar to many of us. God offers the promise of an ultimate new beginning. We are assured that our God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Our faithfulness is in our willingness to always start over, and our God is willing to meet us at that new start.I pray that I am faithful and that you are faithful.

Grace and Peace in your new beginning