MAY 27, Isaiah 26:3

“Ouch!” grumbled Marissa one morning as she yanked the brush through her thick hair.

“You could cut your hair, you know, or wear braids at night,” said her older sister Shelby, who was propped up in bed with her devotional book and Bible by her side.

“Well, right now I just want it to …untangle!” said Marissa, gritting her teeth as she pulled on the brush.

“Let me help,” offered Shelby. She took the brush and started working on the snarls. “You should have strong arms after doing this so often,” she joked as she attacked another section of hair. “Am I pulling too much?” “No more than I do,” Marissa said.

A few minutes later, Shelby put the brush on the dresser. “That should do it!” she said. “Now I’d better finish untangling my head before I get ready for school!” She picked up her Bible and devotional book again.

“What do you mean, untangle your head?” asked Marissa, stuffing books into her bag. “Your hair doesn’t get in knots like mine does.”

“My hair doesn’t get in knots, but my mind does,” said Shelby. “Sometimes I get really worried about things. Then I have trouble concentrating on my lessons or other things I have to do throughout the day.”

“So how do you get over it?” asked Marissa. “A brush works well on hair. What works on minds?”

“The Bible. I make sure I read some verses from it every day,” replied Shelby. “My thoughts seem to get tangled up all by themselves - just like your hair does - but I have to purposely put God’s Word in my mind. I make myself think about what He says. Doing that helps me straighten out my thinking.”

“Maybe I should try that, too,” said Marissa, heaving her book bag to her shoulder.

Shelby added, “Yes, you should read your Bible every day in the morning before you go to school. Untangling thoughts can be even more important than untangling your hair.”

Thought: Do your thoughts get all mixed up sometimes? Turn to the Lord to untangle them!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me focus upon You and Your Word each day so that my mind may be free from anxieties. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.