Sugar In the Bowl

I like a little sugar in my coffee in the mornings. Okay, to be honest, I guess you could say I like a little coffee with my sugar in the mornings. This morning, though, I found that the sugar bowl was empty. I went to refill it from the canister, but that was also empty, so I had to find the new bag of sugar. I finally had sugar in both the canister and the sugar bowl. I stirred my coffee, took that first refreshing sip, and got a nasty surprise - I had forgotten to put sugar in my coffee!

This got me thinking a little bit about my relationship with God (who would ever have thought that bitter coffee could be a religious experience?). But in particular, it got me thinking about what happens when I fail to add God into my daily experiences.

Consider this: I have read my Bible verses for the morning. I have spent time in reflection and meditation on my study passage. I have even spent my ten minutes in morning prayer. And then.... the children act up. Or an unexpected bill comes in the mail. Or I get behind a slow driver. Or dinner burns. Or long-anticipated plans fall through. How do I react?

If I am honest, more often than not I realize in the midst of my reaction that, while I may have filled my bowl with God, I have failed to stir Him into my day. And my reaction is bitter and leaves a terrible taste in my mouth.

James 1:22-24 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." 

The context of this passage deals with our reactions to temptation, stress, and disappointment. If we are daily stirring God into the day, not only filling our bowl with His word but each moment with His flavor, our responses will be righteous ones. 

Putting God in the sugar bowl of your mind will never impact your day, no matter how large or beautiful the container you use. If the sweetness of His guidance, character, and promises aren't stirred into the coffee cup of your heart, and allowed to flavor your every experience, you will not be able to truly "taste and see that the Lord is good."