Category: Devotional Thoughts

Dust and White Flags

It’s been a pretty good week for the most part.  I visited a couple of campuses, had a mid-week worship/fellowship time here at the apartment, recorded the radio show, and managed to train in the gym.

But today was not so good.  I had insomnia last night.  My mind started racing as soon as my head hit the pillow.  This happens to me every once in a while.  Maybe it’s because of my personality type.  I’m an INTP, which means I have a tendency to analyze and process things–to live inside my head, so to speak.  I vaguely recall being awake until two or three in the morning, waking up periodically, and finally getting up around eight.

Not long after waking I realized just how little sleep I had last night.  This was a problem: sleep deprivation has always been my Achilles heel.  I can keep up with energetic college students as long as I get six or seven hours of shut-eye.   But lack of sleep destroys me.

I didn’t make it to campus.  I was just too mentally and emotionally drained–I had to raise the proverbial white flag.  I did introduce myself to a group of students waiting for a bus, but that was about the extent of my face-to-face ministry today (I was on the way back from grocery shopping).

It’s kind of funny it happened this week. Wednesday afternoon we studied Psalm 103 (one of my favorite chapters in the Bible). Here’s one of the verses:

For he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
-Psalm 103:14

I’ve been thinking about this verse all day.  Wednesday we talked about Adam being formed “from the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7).

But it became really personal today.  My God knows just how weak and frail I am.  He knows a sleepless night can transform me from campus evangelist to lethargic couch potato.

He loves me anyway–even on days when I have nothing to offer (not that He’s impressed with what I have to offer in the first place). 

Thank you, Lord, for knowing me and loving me anyway.

Lessons From the Ant: Be Diligent

Proverbs is one of my favorite books of the Bible.  The observations there are practical, and at times, humorous.

I use the following passage when I do time management seminars:


Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
   Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince
   or governor or ruler to make them work,
they labor hard all summer,
   gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
   When will you wake up?
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
   a little folding of the hands to rest—
then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
   scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
-Proverbs 6:6-11

I really don’t like ants.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had my feet and ankles stung by these tiny, vengeful creatures (it still happens almost every time I fish along the banks of my favorite lake in Alabama).  My ongoing war with these insects isn’t limited to the great outdoors–I face a constant battle to keep the six-legged invaders out of my kitchen.  Just one crumb of food draws hundreds of these highly organized pests.

But I do see the point here in Proverbs–you can’t help but admire the diligence of the humble ant.  They are constantly at work, day or night.

I’ve had the opportunity to meet some successful people.  I also enjoy reading about those who have made an impact in their chosen field (ministry, business, athletics, etc).  Here’s one thing all of them seem to have in common:  they work hard!  Yes, they usually have some kind of “break,” such as a unique talent.  But they excelled because they took their talents and worked tirelessly to make the most of every opportunity.

I’ll give you an example from Christian history:

George Whitefield (1714-1769) did not have many advantages growing up.  He was small of stature, cross-eyed, and suffered from asthma.  He was the youngest of seven children, and his father died when he was only two years old.  He spent his childhood years helping his family earn a meager living running an inn.

But Whitefield did have a talent–an incredibly powerful speaking voice.  He discovered this talent in his late teen years.  He came to know Christ soon after, and would use his voice to transform the spiritual landscape of England and America.

How could one man do this?  Whitefield traveled thousands of miles when ships, horses, and walking were the only means of transportation (most people didn’t travel more than 30 miles from their home town).  He preached an average of thirteen sermons a week to very large audiences (sometimes numbering in the thousands).  Whitefield preached (twice) hours before his death, when he barely had the strength to stand.

Do you want to be successful?  Do you want an extraordinary life?  Do you want to make an impact?  Be prepared to work hard.


The harder I work, the luckier I get. 
-Samuel Goldwyn