The Fly

One night, I was not sleepy, so I took out my Bible, pen, and study guide and began to read. A fly started buzzing loudly around my head.

After a few moments I got up from my seat and searched for a flyswatter. I found it, and the chase was on! I repeatedly flailed my instrument of destruction but kept missing the fly. It would not rest on a solid object long enough for a good aim.

I swatted and swatted but still could not hit the fly. Finally I thought, The main reason I came here was to study my lesson, so that is what I am going to do. I laid down the flyswatter, sat in my chair, picked up my lesson, and began to read. “Oh, no!” I shouted a little later. Two annoying insects were singing and buzzing around me. “That does it.” I went and got the bug spray. I sprayed and caught the first singing insect, a mosquito.

Now for the second intruder, the fly. It was so fast. The more I sprayed the air, the faster it flew. After a few minutes of attempting to gas the fly, the thought hit me. If I spray anymore, I might poison myself! Disgusted, I set the can down and returned to my chair. Then I prayed, “God, if You want me to study my Sabbath School lesson, then You get the fly.” I settled down in my chair, determined to study my Sabbath School lesson.

All of a sudden something flew toward me and hit me in the face. It fell between my eye and my eyeglasses. I swiped it away from my face, and it fell onto the floor and under a chair. I just knew it had to be that fly. I started to investigate the black spot under the chair but decided I had spent enough time on it already. Satan had sent the fly to distract me. I had tried to handle the matter myself, but when I finally asked for His help, God quickly took care of it. I have found that the best way to study my Bible is to find a quiet area and reduce all distractions. Purge your study area. Remove distracting magazines and electronic devices.

Remove annoyances, like pesky flies.

Then you can get really serious.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and understanding, and then praise God for the time well spent.

Ruth Cantrell