2021 Daily Devotion - Day 420

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When I received the bill from the Emergency Room at Bear Valley Community Hospital, I knew I should have listened. It was just a few months earlier when I was riding on the chair lift at Squaw Valley, enjoying the breath-taking views of Lake Tahoe, when he said to me, “Dude… Where’s your helmet?” This was years ago, before helmets were popular, and so my answer was, “It’s all good, Bro, I don’t need a helmet!” His last words were: “Helmets are cheaper than CAT scans…”

Fast-forward a few weeks... While screaming down the icy hill at Bear Mountain, I caught an edge on my snowboard. According to the ER physician I saw in Big Bear that afternoon, had I been wearing a helmet, my risk of head injury would have been reduced by more than 60 percent.

I should have listened.

How often do we do this with God? Through our daily devotions, while listening to a sermon, through His still small voice, or even from the words of a complete stranger on a chair lift, God speaks to us. But, do we listen?

Proverbs 8:33
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.

Pray with me:
O Lord, as my Heavenly Father, You know what’s best for me. As Your child, I don’t always listen. Sometimes I think I know best and other times I simply do what I want, even though I know You are right. Give me ears to hear Your voice. Help me to be wise. Strengthen me so I do not disregard Your instruction. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Pastor Jim Reynen
Pastor of Family & Student Ministries
Mount of Olives Church
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