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Bathroom Devotions, by Margaret Watland

10 Comments

Today I’m pleased to introduce Margaret Watland, whom I met in May at the Northwest Christians Writers conference, where we had fun discovering our common bonds of writing, spending time with family, and following the Lord.

Margaret Watland

Margaret Watland

A farmer’s daughter from SE Washington, Margaret worked in banking for many years. She wrote her husband’s story, Recalling My WWII Experiences, published as a serial in The Colorado Lookout. She also contributed several short stories for The Bookshelf, by The Bookshelf Writers. Today she writes historical fiction. Her eldest daughter lives in Wisconsin, and her younger daughter and all her ‘grands’ and ‘greats’ live nearby in the greater Seattle area.

Margaret is the author of today’s guest post. I hope her insights will encourage you as they have me. Thank you, Margaret!

Bathroom Devotions
by Margaret Watland

Jeremiah 31:33…I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.

I found this verse underlined in my (1967) Scofield Bible. In 1968 someone introduced me to Bible Study Fellowship, and I attended classes from 1968 through 1970. It was during those years that I began underlining verses. BSF changed my life because it taught me to read the Bible, and I heard God speaking to me through it.

Guidance and Comfort

Guidance and Comfort

In March of 1970 my first husband died at the age of thirty-three. God used BSF to prepare me to walk with Him down through the valley of death and, as a widow, out on a path to employment and life with my two girls.

The words from Jeremiah bless me whenever I read them. (The writer of Hebrews repeated them in Hebrews 10:16.) I like the New Living Translation version of Jeremiah 31:33...I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I am so thankful God has put His word deep within me. I need it to help me walk with Him every day.

Have you tried to have daily devotions but find your day too full to squeeze it in? If we don’t have time for God how can we teach our children about God? Where do we find time? For me, the earlier in the day, the better.

When I was a young mother I had my devotions in the bathroom. A small devotional booklet, Our Daily Bread, rested on the back of the toilet. In it there was a verse, an explanation, and a short prayer for each day. God used those few words to help me in my Christian walk.

I offer three suggestions to enhance your devotional time:

1. Memorize – When a verse is meaningful to you, memorize it. God will use that verse to teach you of Himself.
2. Meditate – Try to keep that lesson in your mind, to ‘think on it’ during the day.
3. Review – Just before bedtime pick up your devotional book and review the lesson of the day.

O Lord God, help me make time each day to read the Bible, to pray, and to memorize. Amen.

Posted on July 21, 2015

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Filed Under: Guest Posts Tagged With: bathroom devotions, Bible Study Fellowship, BSF, Jeremiah 31:33, New LIving Translation, Northwest Christian Writers, Our Daily Bread, Psalm 23, Scofield Bible, valley of death, widow

Comments

  1. Janice Marx says

    July 21, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    I have found that about the only privacy I have is in the bathroom; ‘a place to be alone with God and talk to him and let him speak to me. Thanks for your writing and encouragement.

    Reply
    • Norma Nill says

      July 22, 2015 at 1:10 pm

      I’m glad Margaret’s experience resonated with you, Janice. Your comment is a blessing!

      Reply
  2. Katherine.w says

    July 22, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    This is from my sister. Good job, Margaret. Thank you for the idea of reading and praying in the bathroom. It also would be a good place to post scriptures and positive thoughts. My house has a “Joy” theme – Scatter Joy; Live Life Joyfully; Joy is in the journey; Joy for all who enter here. Katherine.W

    Reply
  3. Judy Baker says

    July 23, 2015 at 11:27 pm

    Grandma, This idea is great for me. I have been needing just this advice. Thank you,
    Judy

    Reply
  4. David Perry says

    July 24, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    I remember getting to know Margaret during the late 60s and early 70s. She and my mom have been very close friends since that time, and Margaret has been like a second mother to me. Thanks for being such a Godly influence in my life!

    Reply
  5. Sarah Vollmer says

    July 25, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    Thank you, Margaret. You continue to inspire me with your faithfulness and courage!

    Reply
    • Norma Nill says

      July 27, 2015 at 9:17 am

      Thank you Katherine (I like the joy motif idea), Judy, David, and Sarah for your wonderful comments! They’re bound to bless all who stop by and who’ve never met Margaret, as well as her and all know her.

      Reply
  6. Noreen Chase says

    August 13, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    Thank you Margaret, I’ve missed sharing Bible studies with your group and can’t wait for the restart coming up! Your words have helped me so much throughout all our Bible studies!!!

    Reply
  7. Glen Grosenbach says

    May 17, 2016 at 1:37 pm

    Thank you Norma and all contributors,
    As each has said, this older one is blessed more than
    words can express. To God be the Glory!

    Reply
    • Norma Nill says

      May 17, 2016 at 5:49 pm

      I appreciate your reading and commenting on Margaret’s blog post, Dad.

      Reply

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Hi, Reader. Glad you're here. I'm Norma Nill, a psych nurse-systems analyst-turned-writer as well as a master of typos. I live with my husband in the Pacific Northwest (USA) and enjoy connecting with people from all over the world, in person and online. Learn More

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