Taking the last table available, I planted myself in a chair at my local Starbucks.  After retrieving my nonfat (but sugar-laden let’s be honest) latte, I pulled out my laptop and stared at the screen.  And suddenly all of the noises around me seemed magnified.  Conversations, alert-dings from nearby cell phones, the whirring and whooshing of espresso machines.  It was all I could hear.  I found a spare set of ear buds in my bag, put them in my ears and attached them to nothing.  There, I thought.  That’s better.

It has taken me months to finally put fingers to keys for this devotional.  The Lord spoke to me early one morning (as He tends to do) on the fruit of the Spirit.  Truth be told, I didn’t think this topic was exciting enough.  And what do I know of the fruit of the Spirit anyway?  Nevertheless, my heart was moved and I started to study.  Which led to revelation.  Which prompted more study.  With the end result of-you guessed it, revelation.

In my class last night, I told my students how God “shows and grows.”  And let’s face it, neither is easy.  Who wants to be faced with their own weakness, fault, short-coming?  (All of these are plural by the way…at least they are for me.)   And when is growth ever comfortable?  My first instinct is to run because I just don’t like to sit in discomfort.  Through it all though, God is faithful.  “But He gives more grace.”

Isn’t it grace after all that takes the time to refine, redeem and restore?  God doesn’t have to do any of this with us.  But His everlasting love keeps us tethered to Him and not one of us can stay the same in His presence.

I will tell you now, dear friend, writing this devotional was downright difficult.  Not so much the putting words to paper (or screen) part, but all that came with it.  Frustration, tears, humility…etc.  None of it easy, but all so worth it.  Because I feel like I wrote this devotional to myself.  Every word written was for my heart too.  So if/when you read it, please know I have nothing figured out.  We are all just walking this road of faith, one step at a time.  I pray each step takes us one step closer to Him.

Here is the link: www.holyyogadevotional.wordpress.com

Enjoy.