Daily Devotional for April 23, 2020
Danger: Mosquitoes!
“What’s it like in Africa, Mr. Martin?” River asked. Mr. Martin, a missionary who had come back home for a few months, was a good friend of River’s family.
“I’d sure like to see all the animals,” said River’s brother, Andrew.
Their sister, Janae, shuddered. “Not me! It would be so scary with all those lions and snakes and elephants.”
“If a big lion came at me, I’d scare him away with my karate moves!” River chopped the air with his hands. “Hi-yah!”
Mr. Martin laughed. “Well, our most dangerous enemies in Africa are not lions, snakes, or elephants. Would you believe they’re mosquitoes?”
“Mosquitoes?” Andrew shook his head. “I’d be more afraid of a big, fierce lion!”
“Yeah,” said Janae. “Lions can kill people!”
“That’s true, but lions don’t usually attack people unless they’re provoked,” replied Mr. Martin. “Mosquitoes are everywhere—and they always bite. In Africa, they carry malaria and other diseases that have killed a lot of people. Some missionaries have had to leave their work and return home because of an illness caused by a little mosquito.”
“I didn’t know that,” said River. “Okay. If I ever get to Africa, I’ll watch out for those really dangerous animals—mosquitoes!”
“Get ’em with your karate moves,” teased Andrew. “Hi-yah!”
Mr. Martin smiled. “Don’t forget to watch out for dangerous little things here at home too.”
River frowned. “What do you mean?”
“It’s not always the big things like a serious illness or problems at school that discourage us,” explained Mr. Martin. “The seemingly small frustrations of daily life can have an effect on us too.”
“But they don’t make us sick, do they?” Janae asked.
“They can if we’re not careful. A small thing like running late or getting a bad grade can lead to us having a bad attitude or doing something wrong, just like bigger problems. If we let it go on day after day, it can affect us spiritually.”
“So how do we fight it?” asked Andrew.
“Prayer,” said Mr. Martin. “Remember that Jesus loves you and will help you with every problem you face—big or little. Talk to Him about all of them.” SHERRY L. KUYT
How about you?
How are you handling the little problems you face every day? Sometimes those are the ones that can wear you down and cause you to make a hurtful remark or have a bad attitude. The Bible compares Satan to a roaring lion, but he often uses little things to try to get you to sin. Don’t let that happen. Talk to Jesus about your problems, and trust Him to help you.
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