March 9

Mar 9, 2026

Read: Isaiah 55:1–7

Devotion:

I love music! I started college as a music minor and have always had a passion for singing. Music has a great effect on me. If a song sounds sad (even if the lyrics are not), my mood can instantly be changed. Right out of college, I was working part time at a church and part time at Menards. I would work the super early shift when the store was only open for contractors. My location was about a thirty minute drive from home, so every morning I would crank the local pop station and start my drive. After a few weeks, I noticed something happening in my attitude, thoughts, and actions. I was shorter with people. Angrier at customers. Thinking words that were NEVER part of my vocabulary. 

In praying about it, God showed me that I was drinking from a well that would never satisfy. I made a commitment to God that day to only listen to the Christian station in my car. I say THE Christian station, because there was only one. WFRN. If you have had the pleasure of listening to this one, you know–they play about five songs a day (over and over again). They also host a ton of preaching programs that are not musical! So instead of listening to Lady Gaga on my way to work, I started hearing preaching from all around the country. Was I pumped up early in the morning with high energy tunes? NO. Was I filled from the well that satisfies? YES!

This week, we enter a theme in these devotionals about costly discipleship. My example might seem trivial, and in some ways, it is, but the heart behind it was sacrificial. I did not want to give up the fun music. I did not want to listen to talk radio. But, I did want to follow Jesus. I wanted my mind to be filled with His thoughts. I wanted to seek Him. I wanted to forsake the ways of the wicked and turn to God!

It has been nearly 15 years since I made that commitment in my car. It is still one that I honor today. Thankfully, Spotify can connect to my car now and I can rock out to the latest worship songs anytime I want! Whenever someone (namely Travis or my niece) asks to listen to something else, I remind them of this story and the way God worked in my mind and heart.

Reflect:

Is there something in your life that is keeping you from turning to God? Ask God to reveal it. Ask Him to help you lay it down as a sacrifice to following Him!

Are you ready to pay the costly price of following Jesus?

Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God that we can know and seek! Help me to turn from the ways of the wicked. Show me more of who You are each day. Give me a desire to lay down my own desires in order to follow Yours! In Jesus’ name, Amen.