Mid-week Devotional:
Week of April 12, 2026
Scripture for this week’s Mid-week Devotional comes from the book of Ecclesiastes 2:10b-11
Hear the Word of God,
“10b… my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
This is God’s word for God’s people. Thanks be to God. AMEN.
The author of this scripture knew what it feels like to finish a job well done. He experienced a sense of accomplishment. He looked upon himself as being successful, gifted, and somewhat above all those around him.
But… when he reflected upon his life again, he realized that nothing he had done met the needs of those around him.
He had been busy and productive based on the world around him, but when he stopped and thought about what he had achieved there was only emptiness.
He had placed himself first in the order of who gained.
He served himself and had not served the needs of others.
Each week I prepare my list of what needs to be completed by the end of the week. There is a sense of accomplishment if I am able to mark everything off before Saturday arrives. When that occurs, I feel on top of the world, and I place a “smiley face” on my daily calendar… A “smiley face” brings back memories of my grade schoolteachers placing a star on my assignments when I had done well. I remember patting myself on the back and feeling so smart.
Each week when I open myself up to God’s presence in front of my computer and begin to write the Mid-week Devotional, God reminds me within His holy word what I need to focus on within my daily walk of faith.
When I read this week’s scripture that God sent me to, I started out puffed up and feeling good about what I had accomplished for this week. In my eyes I had earned 5 stars this past week for preaching at all 3 churches within the circuit and sharing a weekly devotional.
And then… oh so very gently God spoke to me through the scripture recorded in Ecclesiastes that there were times this week when I was too busy, too focused on what I felt important, to reach out to those in need. I had not served the needs of others around me just like the writer of Ecclesiastes.
“10b… my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
This week:
-God reminded me that God knows every thought I have.
-God reminded me that God knows every word I have said both kind and unkind.
-God reminded me of every deed I have done and every deed I have left undone that God has set before me.
-God reminded me to be open and ready to complete each task God sets before me within my daily journey of faith.
In the days ahead I will be focusing on completing each task God sets before me.
Today and in the days ahead I will be praying that you also take time to reflect upon your response to God’s presence and the tasks that God sets before you.
Peace be with you.
AMEN.