I commonly see themes run through my daily readings, and that continuity never ceases to amaze me. In any given morning, I may read devotional thoughts from up to five different authors in addition to my Scripture reading. As for the Scripture, my readings come from a chronological daily assignment (currently in Genesis), as well as a small portion from Proverbs and either John or Psalms. With such diversity of reading, it would seem that the themes would vary widely!
And sometimes they do vary, especially at first glance. But when I think more deeply about the readings, I typically find a theme. Even if I cannot formulate a concrete thought about what I am reading, I can see the theme if I pay attention.
Yesterday, it was prayer. A habit of prayer. A focus in prayer. The purpose of prayer. In nearly every reading, there was something about prayer. And oh how prayer was needed yesterday!
This morning it was friendship. The story behind the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Two separate mentions of the friendship between Naomi and Ruth. David and Jonathan’s friendship. The lack of friendship between siblings: Jacob and Esau; Leah and Rebekah. As the friendship theme cemented in my mind, I even saw how other verses and comments could relate to relationships. Later, I saw discussions in multiple social media groups (especially the closed groups) about relationships and our need for one another.
God knows our fickle minds. He knows that we need truths repeated multiple times. He knows we need confirmations. Oh, what a loving God to provide us just what we need!
But, we have a duty as well. We must respond. We must pay attention. It would be easy to just skim through my readings every morning, seeing them from a very human perspective by focusing only on the separate and individual nature. Instead I must pay attention. God, in His miraculous plan, is able to take writings penned across the centuries and pull them together just when I need them. Will I be alert to His plan?
Not Quite Ordinary 