Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 302 – The God-Botherer

As the Holy Spirit would have it, I have been reading Martin Shaw and spoke with two of the three Jeffs who subscribe to this post over the past couple of weeks. They all reminded me how important it is to bother God, good and often.

“I let myself off the hook most of my life, I am ashamed to say, but I have to keep a shorter account now, being a God-Botherer and all.” — Martin Shaw, Liturgies of the Wild

Running a business or an organisation can be lonely. The office is quiet. Staff have gone home. You have big decisions to make and no one to turn to.

It does not have to be that way.

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” — Isaiah 1:18

Martin Shaw and the rest of us cracked saints know that God always wants us back. He is a relational God. The God-Botherer keeps short accounts with heaven, bringing decisions, failures, and joys quickly back to the One who sees clearly. I have yelled at Him, sat with Him, wondered with Him, written letters to Him (sometimes with rather blue language), lowered my head under His stern but loving gaze, and done happy dances with Him as I watched staff knock it out of the ballpark.

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” — Isaiah 30:15

Honestly, I do not know how business people who do not talk to God manage. I could not have survived in business without Him, let alone flourished.

So keep troubling heaven with questions, praise, and longing.

Be a God-Botherer.

Prayer

Thank You that we never have to lead alone.
When decisions weigh heavily and the office grows quiet, remind us that Your door is always open.

Teach us to keep short accounts with You, to bring our questions, our failures, and our hopes before You quickly.

Give us the courage to ask, the humility to listen, and the wisdom to follow where You lead.

May our businesses be places where Your wisdom shapes our decisions, Your mercy softens our hearts, and Your joy fills our work.

Amen