Morning Devotional 011424 Stand Strong in Your Faith

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

January 14, 2024

John 6:16-24

16 When evening came, Jesus’ disciples went down to the lake. 17 They got into a boat and were crossing the lake to Capernaum. It was already getting dark and Jesus hadn’t come to them yet. 18 The water was getting rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When the wind had driven them out for about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water. He was approaching the boat and they were afraid. 20 He said to them, “I Am. Don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and just then the boat reached the land where they had been heading. 22 The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one boat had been there. They knew Jesus hadn’t gone with his disciples, but that the disciples had gone alone. 23 Some boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they had eaten the bread over which the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

Good Morning! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost!

During our earthly walk, we experience stormy times. Sometimes, we experience just a little wind blowing through the leaves and breaking the weaker branches. Other times, we experience gale-force winds almost knocking us over and breaking large branches from our trees. Every time, Jesus is by our side, ready to hold us or pick us up when we are in need.

When our faith resembles the small branches that fall to the ground even when there is only a little wind, we are easily tossed and turned. Sometimes, we end up lying on the ground, broken and weak. When we feel that the least wind will test us, we need to return to God’s word: read it and wrestle with it to see how it relates to us.

For those who work to nurture their faith by reading the Bible and spending time with God, we will stand strong even during the gale winds. God, through the Holy Spirit, will gird us up and allow us to bend, but not break no matter how strong our adversaries are.

We will become pillars of strength like the Oaks of Righteousness in Isaiah 61:3. “To grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. May we walk in the strength of knowing that you are walking beside us every day. When we grow weary, you are there to hold us up. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Trust Christ to guide us along God’s path.

Trust that God is by your side! Pastor Liz