Today’s Reading: Numbers 9

9 The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Let the Israelites keep the Passover at its appointed time.
Numbers 9:1-2

How do we stay faithful while traveling? 

I think of friends of mine who think about how to stay healthy while traveling. When work or pleasure call them away from home, they think about how to maintain a running schedule, how to still get their workout in, how to ensure they stay in shape. Some of these friends I think of as fanatical!

But they have a point. Paul uses athletic metaphors all the time to speak to the life of faith. When we travel, it’s easy to let habits slip. We eat different, probably worse, foods, especially while vacationing. Exercise habits might slip, too. Unless, like my friends, we practice intentionality. 

To be sure, there’s goodness in taking a break from obligation. That’s what sabbath practice is all about! But outside of a weekly practice of sabbath, to stay true to our faith requires intentionality, especially when traveling. That’s what we see God saying to Moses in the scripture today: yes they’re in the wilderness, they’re traveling, but they can still worship God. 

When I travel, sometimes I maintain my regular practice by bringing my Bible and journal. But sometimes, mindful that variety is the spice of life, I change it up. I’ll use the Pray as you Go podcast, or I’ll take time to practice Lectio Divina, or I’ll bring a different devotional book with me. The point is: I have a plan. I’m intentional in my practice. That’s the encouragement from Numbers 9 today: be intentional in practice when traveling. 

Think
When you travel, how might you stay faithful to your regular religious practice, maintaining quiet times and/or prayer practices?

Pray
If you don’t currently have a regular practice, pray and ask God to show you how to establish one.

Do
For a trip coming up, maybe to a football game this fall or to visit family, make a plan for how to remain true to your regular spiritual practice. 

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.