Cynthia Mendenhall: Grab God Like a Black Friday Special
Using cell phone light, we studied the map in the parking lot line. The store’s doors would open at 3:30 a.m.
My daughter and I had arrived just after midnight, more than prepared to accomplish our goal. We had napped Thanksgiving evening, scoured the newspaper inserts to find the best deal, and bundled up for the chilly wait.
Our senses were alert as we tuned into everyone else’s chatter, trying to determine how many others were planning to grab one of the twenty promised large screens. With store map in hand, we whispered a strategy for success. Kaitlynn would sprint into the madness of the store’s Black Friday electronics department to claim hers; I would follow with her purse and a shopping cart to load it in.
We had one focused goal that night, and we put all our thoughts and energy into accomplishing it.
I wish I could tell you the same is true of me living out my walk with Christ. How many times have I created yet another strategy or promise to be wholly focused? It seems I’m often ill-prepared and easily distracted on the long course. My Bible gets left in the car Sunday. Oops! I hit my snooze alarm and doze through prayer time. Oops! A family needs food, but I hesitate while others fill the schedule. Double oops!
Paul spoke to my frustrations when he admitted his own struggle in doing what is right and good.
I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t.
~Romans 7:18b-19a NLT
Today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are presented with a built-in opportunity to look back on our year and our life with gratitude. But while we’re reflecting, how about taking a moment to evaluate a few areas you’ve been slipping in lately. Be honest with yourself about the most important things in your life, like God and his love and grace. We can go hard after the things we want, like large TVs. Maybe it’s a good time to go hard after more time in the Word and more time in prayer.
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
~James 4:17 NLT
We are all able to focus and go after what we really want when we want it. Let’s want more of God in this season. And let’s do whatever it takes—planning, waking early, and being single-focused in our time with him.
What’s your big TV? When you reflect, what are some things you have pursued more than God?
Dear Heavenly Father, my devotion to You has been weak at times. I’m sorry I’ve allowed distractions to crowd out our time together. Please help me to do what is right—to serve You and others with more intention and love.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Genre: Nonfiction
Copyright2021: Grab God Like a Black Friday Special: Cynthia Mendenhall : All Rights Reserved
Meet Our Contributor
CYNTHIA MENDENHALL
Cynthia Mendenhall is an author, speaker, adventuress, and a contributing writer to VineWords: Devotions and More. Her devotions specialize in victory over traumas such as divorce, or other life-altering situations. She encourages the reader to fully embrace her single-again status, and she inspires her to live every day to the fullest regardless of the challenges she may be working through. Once captive to guilt and fear, and hurt by the loss of a 30-year marriage, Cynthia now pursues with passion the mission of leading others into the true freedom, love, and abundant life, the believer can experience in Jesus Christ.
Cynthia is a former high school English teacher and holds a Masters’ degree in Educational Leadership. She is a Certified Christian Life Coach, a trained Chaplain, and is employed as a Career and Leadership Coach for students of Ohio University.
Her prescriptive non-fiction sits within the context of stories filled with common sense teaching, splashes of humor, and always with the Bible as her foundation. Her voice is that of a friend sharing conversation over coffee.
Cynthia is the author of Spunkify Your Life: 8 Secrets to Living with More Focus, Fascination, and Fun; Spunkify Your Life Growth Guide, and Spunkier Yet!: 8 Secrets to Living with More Fullness and Freedom
Cynthia enjoys spending time at the beach. She regularly sneaks away on all sorts of adventures, taking notes along the way as writing material inspiration. Her favorite activities include riding her cruiser bike, sunset floats in her lime green kayak named Earl, and indulging in literary novels, sipping coffee, and sampling dark chocolate.
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