Do You Take The Time To Read The Owner’s Manual
Some of you might know that my daughter used to live in Alaska. It is a gorgeous state with lots of panoramic views, perfect for anyone wanting to take in the scenery and explore the great outdoors. Before setting off on any adventure, it’s always wise to read the owner’s manual to ensure you’re well-prepared and know what to expect, much like preparing for the great Alaskan wilderness.
My daughter originally went to Alaska to study Marine Biology. She always loved sharks (nothing like her mother), and the University of Alaska had a fantastic Marine Biology department. She soon fell in love with the people and the state and became an outdoor enthusiast. She loved visiting glaciers, exploring ice caves, hiking through the woods, spending time on the water, and observing marine life along the coastlines.
So, when she asked for a GoPro camera to record some of her adventures, we were happy to get her one. It seemed like a great idea, but the recordings never happened. She didn’t even record when she jumped off the side of a mountain to go parasailing! Thankfully, I didn’t know about that adventure beforehand, so I never had to worry.
Fast forward several years, and Joe decided to use the GoPro to record his airplane flights. We retrieved the GoPro from my daughter and were surprised when we opened it to find lots of options and parts that came with it.
Now, I’m not saying that every male is the same as my husband, but Joe NEVER reads the owner’s manual. He’ll only open it if he’s working on a piece of equipment and needs specific details. Otherwise, he prefers to “wing it.”
This got me thinking about how often we overlook the owner’s manual for things we buy. I’ve talked before about how much we use our phones and the many features they offer. Even those who use their phones extensively may not be scratching the surface of all the features and possibilities—mainly because they haven’t read the owner’s manual.
I’m just guessing here, but I bet the smartphone beside me can perform over a hundred different tasks. While I use my phone for many things, I probably only utilize about a tenth of its capabilities. Why? Because I’ve never read the owner’s manual.
When I get a new phone, I open the box, make sure it’s charged, and start playing with it immediately. The same goes for a new stove, refrigerator, television, or car. I’ll drive a brand-new car home from the dealer without ever touching the owner’s manual.
We miss out on so much because of our (yes, I’m including you, too!) aversion to reading the owner’s manual. We might know the highlights but miss some of the best and most valuable features.
Have you ever stopped to think about where an owner’s manual comes from? The maker of the product creates it. You won’t get an owner’s manual for a smartphone from a toaster company. I wouldn’t trust an owner’s manual for my brand-new car if a carpet manufacturer made it. I want specific instructions on how to use the product I bought from the creator because they know the product best.
Wouldn’t it be nice if “WE” had an owner’s manual? Something we could read and research so that we don’t miss out on all the best stuff and most helpful details? OH WAIT!!! We DO have an owner’s manual! We were created, and our Creator gave us an owner’s manual to navigate life. Our owner’s manual is called the Bible.
If you are scared
Joshua 1:9 NIV
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
If you are worried
Matthew 6:34 NIV
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
If you don’t know how to pray
Matthew 6:6 NIV
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
If you are worried about finances
Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV
12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
Today, take out your owner’s manual and see what instructions you might have been missing. Here’s one last piece of wisdom from my manual:
Psalms 1:1-3 NIV
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
To GOD Goes the Glory!
Have a Blessed Day!
Let’s end with a prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for providing us with Your Word, our ultimate owner’s manual. Please help us to turn to it daily, seeking guidance, wisdom, and comfort. May we never overlook its treasures and always remember that You know us better than anyone. Guide us in all we do, and help us to walk according to Your plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Great advice!
Thank you for this reminder.❤️ I do need to check my own owner’s manual more often !
Good post and love the prayer at the end. I actually do read the manual especially if it’s something hard to use. Reading the Bible daily is very important for me.
Thank you for your blessings, prayers and posts, Tania.
TBTG (Thanks Be To God)
I love your Sunday posts and practical reminders to rely on God and our manual to live for Him. To God be the glory.
I love your posts in general but especially love your Sunday posts. I needed these scriptures today as I’ve been feeling so lost since my husband passed July 20th. I feel like I’m sitting on a slippery rock in the middle of white water rapids in a storm at times and your posts help more than you know. I do read some in the Bible most days, but you always seem to post just what I need that day. Is there a Bible Study book you recommend? There are so many different ones.
Judy, I can’t imagine the heartbreak, loneliness, and fear of the unknown you are feeling. But, the Lord knows! He is there for you, always, no matter how far away you feel, He is there.
Thank you, Tania for a great post to remind us that we need to check out our “manual” , the Bible every day, it is God’s love for us! Love your ending prayers as well.
May God bless you and your family,
TANIA I LOVE ❤️LOVE ❤️ THIS POST!!!! THANK YOU FOR THE PSALMS THEY DEFINITELY GET YOU PRAYING 🙏 AND DEFINITELY THINKING 🤔 AND ALSO, LEARNING A LOT!!!! ❤️ KEEP THEM COMING.
What a great post today. I read it to my husband and he felt you are really blessed with a special gift of sharing everyday life’s events while reminding us of our true source. Blessings always.
That is fabulous that you shared it with your husband.
We surely needed the owners manual for life. I don’t want to wing it and miss!
I finally found your daily blog or at least the one for today. You say 50 is not old and I say 80 is not old either. Thank you for the prayers today. God may not always give us what we ask for but certainly gives us what we need.
We are only as old as we feel and act.
My husband is just the opposite. He sits and reads the owner’s manual and then keeps referring back to it. Just so it gets done! lol!
Matthew 6:34 is one of my favorites! Love that the Bible is our owner’s Manuel!
When I read Psalm 1, it took me back to when my brothers and I were kids and our parents helped us memorize Psalm 1. Thanks for another great devotional, Tania!
Love your Sunday posts. They always seem to lift my spirit.
This was the best tania thank you
Now if those new smart phones came with hard copies of how to use all the features!!
Thank you for reminding me I have not read my God’s Owners Manual today.
Going right now to do so.
🙏
Beautiful post today! Thank you for such a lovely start to the week.
Wow what a great message today! So very true. Thankful for you friend, that you share your faith with us and are such a servant. 🩷
Love your ending prayer. Thank you.
And “Yes”, Men are from Mars and Women from Venus. Lol
Lol!!! True, so true!
I enjoy all of your devotions, but today’s was exceptional. God gave us all we need in His Word for living a life devoted to him. Thank you!
Thank you so much ~ wonderful reminder for us all!
Thank you for the great message, Tania. I too live with someone who doesn’t read the manuals, LOL, unless absolutely necessary. It seems similar to how men didn’t usually like to ask directions (pre-GPS). Besides your great fashion tips, I love your common sense approach and your humor about life. Thank you for bringing us the Word in a relatable way. Enjoy your brief cold snap…would love some cooler days here in Florida. 😘🙏
Oh, my, this post is so, so true! Thanks, Tania, I needed this reminder today!
I leave a reply often on your post but they never show up here. I’m not sure what I am doing wrong
You are too impatient. Someone has to manually go in and approve the comments. On busy days, the approvals take longer.
As always your Sunday messages are always so thought provoking, thank you😊
Thanks for the reminder that we always have guidelines for everything in life. The Bible is an invaluable tool for life. We don’t reference it as often as we should. But it is always there for us just as our Lord is.
Thanks for the Sunday devotional.
Wonderful message today!! Thank you! Have A Blessed Day ☀️
GREAT message as usual.
God Bless ALL that you Do for
the Kingdom.
Have a blessed week, keep you eyes
on Jesus, HE will never fail YOU!!!
Tania, This message is spot on. Joe is not the only man that does not read manuals unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’m thankful for The Bible and I know that I should read it more often than just every morning when reading my devotions. I do wish that we got a printed manual for our new cell phones instead of having to look it up online.
God definitely is love and loves us unconditionally! What a statement to dwell on.
Barb
Tania! That was AWESOME!!! Your Sunday posts are the BEST ❤️ Happy Sunday 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
I do read owners manuals and I do read my Bible, but all of them have so much information that we need to re-read as we go! Thank you for your posts!!
My husband doesn’t read the owner’s manual either. Ha!! I love this post. Sunday blessings to you.
You are not alone, the owners manual sits there until a problem arises!
Amen! I have to admit I am a person who almost always reads the manual or at least skims it! Probably because I used to write those manuals, I feel like the writer would want me to! lol
Thank you for this. It’s been quite some time since I looked at my owners manual.
Tania what a powerful message today! I’m a wing it girl too and I need to be more careful and do my homework. I love the verses you chose and how they lift my soul up. The Bible is an amazing tool that I use daily and need to use more. Have a blessed week.
The Bible is an amazing tool, but we have to use it. I’m as guilty as anyone for not checking it as often as I should.
I think pilots may be alike in many ways. My spouse (the owner of a 1959 Cessna floatplane) is the same with preferring to ‘wing it’. The manuals come out rarely – sometimes watching a YouTube video depending on the troubleshooting involved. These videos seem to help at times if the problem is one which is ‘vintage’ in nature. What time of aircraft does Joe own?
Have a great day.
Angie, Joe has two planes right now. He has a 337R Cessna, and a 750 Zenith that he just finished and started flying.
Printed versions of the Bible are readily available. Unfortunately, owner’s manuals are not. We just purchased a new vehicle and no printed owner’s manual, you must go on-line!
Your words of wisdom came at a very timely time for me. There have been some difficult issues regarding my husband’s health the last couple of months. The Psalms that you chose today are very calming for me right now. Thanks so much and you hit the nail on the head with your choice. Thanks again.
PS. I enjoy all of your posts.
Mary, we are all getting to the age where we will have health decisions to make. I’m praying for you and your husband, and that the Lord will guide you in the right direction.
I love the thought of comparing the Bible to an owners manual! Great great lesson!
I just love your site…the best thing about it is that you use it to share your faith…to God be the glory!
Wonderful analogies, Tania! I do forget about the Bible. I’ve had my new car for a year and have barely opened the manual yet AND my husband like Joe never touches an owner’s manual either. Perfect verse today. Have a beautiful Sunday!
We are all guilty of forgetting the Bible, at least occasionally.
Thank you for your readings today. I saved them so I can read them during the day along with my Bible. Have a Blessed Day
Thank you for the beautiful devotional this morning. Wishing you many blessings from our Lord today!
Yes my husband typically not reading manual just winging it.
Your daughter is so brave, I would be so scared of hungry bears!
So glad God gave us a manual that truly works praise him forever also as a loving merciful
Father!!!
I love the Sunday post they always get me to thinking and I learn something! Do you have a favorite devotional book? I would love to read something like this everyday. I appreciate all you do may God truly bless you and yours
I just started the Purpose Driven Life. It looks like it will be a good one.
One of the best posts ever.
Loved your post today!
You always give me something to ponder and I have learned so much from you. Thank you!
My favorite is: “You shall love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. A second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and all the Prophets.” Matt. 22: 37-40
Have a blessed Sunday!
Cecilia
P.S.
Some owner manuals are very detailed. My Silhouette machine for example. I ended up looking up tutorials online to figure it out. 🫤
Thank you for pointing this out. I’ve been skipping my daily time with my owners manual, and really need to get back to it! I love your Sunday posts.
My husband died suddenly last year. Yesterday was his birthday. Steve was the same and never read instructions. This post made me feel a little better today.
Jodi, I’m glad the post helped. I’ll be saying a prayer for you today.
Great message, have a blessed day!
Good word. I love reading God’s Word.
Good reminder
Amen 🙏