JANUARY 24, Psalm 119:18 

This silly thing!” snapped Lauren as she threw the flower kit across the table. “None of the pieces will fit together right.”

“Calm down,” said Dad. “Getting angry and being out of control will not help.” He picked up some of the pieces from the kit, then asked, “Aren’t you missing something? Did this kit come with directions?”

“I already read them,” answered Lauren, “but I couldn’t understand them.” She rummaged through the wastebasket and pulled out a paper. “Here they are,” she said, handing the paper to her dad.

“Maybe you read too much at once,” suggested Dad. “Let’s just take one step at a time. Let’s see, it says to bend the green pipe cleaners in half so they look like diagram A.” He showed Lauren the diagram and then waited while she took the pipe cleaners and bent them. “Next it says to put them aside and wrap the yellow yarn around the small spiral wires and wrap red yarn around the larger spirals.”

“Will you help me?”asked Lauren.So they spent the afternoon together, reading the directions and following them closely until the flowers were completed. Lauren held up the finished project and grinned at her father. “Is this the first time you spent an afternoon making flowers?” she said. “Thanks, Dad. It just wouldn’t come together for me. Those directions were too hard to understand.”

“But they are very important, and we needed them, didn’t we?” asked Dad. “Yeah,” agreed Lauren, “and I did read them, but I needed to follow them step by step. Thanks for helping, Dad.” “You are welcome,” replied Dad. After a moment, he said, “You know, dear, this reminds me that it is even more important to read and follow the directions God has given to help us in our daily life.”

“You mean the Bible,” said Lauren. “I do read it, but sometimes I can’t understand it, either.” “I know,” said Dad, “but I hope you won’t just toss it aside. Instead, ask God to show you what His Word means. With His help, follow it step by step.” “And I will ask you, too, when I need help understanding His directions,” said Lauren. “Okay, Dad?” Dad nodded. “Anytime!” he promised.

Thought: Do you ever feel that the Bible is too hard to understand? Don’t quit reading.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me to understand the Bible. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.