DEVOTION: The Quiet Truth ~ by Leila Halawe

I have a very short attention span. Very short. My mind is occasionally like that of a little puppy, easily distracted by a ball or a butterfly or flower. At times it is a good thing, and other times, not so good. It’s something I have struggled with since I was a child, the constant jumping from thought to thought, idea to idea.

As a child, this affected my school grades. As an adult, it affects my emotions and beliefs about myself and my life, so I need to be very intentional and focused with my thoughts as they can get away from me and take my mind to places they shouldn’t be.

In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that ‘the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;’ and one of the ways he does that is through our thoughts. He is subtle in his attack, planting little doubts and fears in our mind. And he is relentless. We’ve all been there. We have all at some point found ourselves thinking negative thoughts and living in fear and doubt, believing the lie that we are alone in our struggles. But if we still our thoughts for just a moment, if we stop and focus, amidst all the lies we will hear a gentle voice saying, ‘I am with you, beloved. Just keep your eyes and ears on Me.’

When we still our thoughts, we can hear the truth; that Jesus is with us and for us and where He is, hope is there also.

Jesus’ warning about the enemy was two-fold. He wanted to prepare people for the attacks that would come, but He also wanted to tell them where they could find refuge—in Him. When our thoughts wage war and fear creeps in, the One who stilled the waves can still our thoughts. When darkness starts to close in, Jesus lights the way and guides us to Himself, into His open arms of grace and love. He is our compass towards peace. When we focus our attention on Jesus, we can dispute the lies of the enemy and take our hope back. When we focus our thoughts on Jesus, we see the love of the Father who sent His Son to bring peace and hope to a turbulent world, and we can cast aside all fear and doubt and continue to walk in the light.

Jesus came so that we may have life, and have it to the full, so let us keep our mind and our hearts on Him and experience the fullness of life that He so wants for us.

John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)


Leila Halawe is a Sydney-based coffee-loving nonfiction writer and blogger. She has published a mini devotional and shares her life via Looking In (www.misslays.com), a blog about her experiences as a carer for parents with cancer, as well as random events that happen in cafes. 

You can connect with Leila via Facebook at Leila Halawe Author (https://www.facebook.com/misslays/) and via Twitter at Leila Halawe (@LHalawe).