Morning Devotional 011325 Far From Perfection

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

January 13, 2026

2 Corinthians 3:13-18

13 We aren’t like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites couldn’t watch the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds were closed. Right up to the present day, the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. The veil is not removed because it is taken away by Christ. 15 Even today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But whenever someone turns back to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. 18 All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Good Morning! Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!

In January 2021, I officially committed to my ministry journey by beginning the candidacy process. When I reflect on my call story, I start with the moment I felt God urging me to complete Lowell’s ministry by preaching the word. As I reflect on that time, I realize that accepting the call to finish his appointment was a special act of sacred love. 

A few months later, I began answering a new call, my personal call, to ministry. Each week, when I stepped into the pulpit to share the words God placed on my heart, I felt validated and filled with the Lord’s spirit. Each week, I felt a growing freedom as I shared pieces of myself that had long been held inside. 

I know I still have a long way to go, but I fully embrace my transformation into the child God created. As with any change, sometimes things work the first time, but often it takes multiple iterations to get it “just right.” Even when one side is shored up, the other begins to slip and requires additional support beams. 

Each morning, I thank God for the opportunity to become the light and love of Christ for others. I hope for the day when I see Christ’s unveiled image peering back at me in the mirror. 

Redeeming Lord, you bless us abundantly! I love that you continue to work through me. Even when I make mistakes, you are working to direct me. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: The Holy Spirit empowers us to reflect Christ’s light to the world.

In the Lord’s Spirit, we find freedom. Pastor Liz