Daily Guideposts 2016: 14-Day Reading PlanSample

Baking powder—I had forgotten the baking powder. I slammed the waffle iron onto the counter and grabbed a fork to try to pick the crumbled mess from the hot griddle, snarling at my kids that they would have to eat cereal for breakfast instead. Switching on the garbage disposal, I watched the mess float away, wishing I could begin again and start fresh, making amends for the morning that had turned out all wrong.

But I couldn’t. We had no time. Church started in just twenty minutes.

“Everyone get your Bibles and put on your shoes. We’re leaving in two minutes!” I shouted. We scrambled into the car, a frantic cacophony of seatbelts and whines as my husband squealed out of the driveway. Silence settled over the car. I glanced back to three wide-eyed kids, sitting as if they were afraid to even breathe.

“I’m sorry, guys.” I took a deep breath. “I wish I hadn’t forgotten the baking powder in those waffles.”

“No, Mama,” my eight-year-old chimed in, “the waffles weren’t the problem. The problem is we forgot Jesus.”

I closed my eyes, the truth of the morning washing over me. A teaspoon of baking powder in the waffle batter wouldn’t have changed anything because in our frenzied rush to get ready for church, we had forgotten the most important thing. Sunday—our every day—is all about Jesus, regardless of what we have for breakfast.

Father God, when I’m harried, worried, or frantic, turn my eyes toward You. Amen.

—Erin MacPherson

Digging Deeper: Psalms 29:11, 34:14