Today I started out on my walk, breathing in the sweet smell of early morning blossoms. I drank in the beauty of the majestic blue spruce trees reaching to the perfect sky. I eavesdropped on the call of one blue jay to another. What a glorious morning. Ready to start my time in prayer, I began with thanks to God for the beauty all around me.

But then it started; the buzz of a horsefly as it flew near my ear. And again. It circled my head as I walked. I tried to swat it away, but it was too fast. I pulled the collar of my shirt up over my head so that only the eye of my sunglasses was showing. I must have looked like quite the sight. Unfortunately, this strategy not only didn’t work, it seemed to excite the pesky fly and I think he called for his friends. Three horseflies surrounded me now.

I returned my shirt to normal and began swatting again. It didn’t work. So I started to run, thinking I could get away. This didn’t deter them.

Aha, I thought of using my arms in helicopter motion, alternating my swings so that there was never any open opportunity for them to land on my head. I succeeded in hitting them, but I think it actually encouraged them to try harder. I was in a losing battle.

By this time I was a third of the way through my walk and I hadn’t even started my prayers. I was too busy focusing on the problem of these horseflies. I had ignored my Lord in favour of focusing on my problems.

Realizing this, I straightened my shirt and held my head up high with my arms naturally swinging by my side. I decided to ignore the horseflies and focus on God. I began my prayers.

By the time I had rounded the last corner to my home, the flies had lifted and I was free to walk without aggravation. Coincidence?

There are many times in my life when instead of focusing on God, I pay attention to the problem at hand. I put so much energy into fixing my situation that I ignore my Lord altogether. But God wants to be part of the solution. He wants me to spend my energies on Him.

When I set out on my walk tomorrow, I plan to start with an open heart and a clear focus on my Lord.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints
(Ephesians 6:18 NIV).

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But God wants to be part of the solution. He wants me to spend my energies on Him.