Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 18, 2025
Joshua 1:1-9
1 After Moses the LORD’s servant died, the LORD spoke to Joshua, Nun’s son. He had been Moses’ helper. 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross over the Jordan with this entire people to the land that I am going to give to the Israelites. 3 I am giving you every place where you set foot, exactly as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will stretch from the desert and the Lebanon as far as the great Euphrates River, including all Hittite land, up to the Mediterranean Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you during your lifetime. I will be with you in the same way I was with Moses. I won’t desert you or leave you. 6 Be brave and strong, because you are the one who will help this people take possession of the land, which I pledged to give to their ancestors. 7 “Be very brave and strong as you carefully obey all of the Instruction that Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t deviate even a bit from it, either to the right or left. Then you will have success wherever you go. 8 Never stop speaking about this Instruction scroll. Recite it day and night so you can carefully obey everything written in it. Then you will accomplish your objectives and you will succeed. 9 I’ve commanded you to be brave and strong, haven’t I? Don’t be alarmed or terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Good Morning. God says, “Be brave and strong!”
I would classify myself as someone with a strong resolve. God blessed me with the self-confidence that my parents nurtured as I grew up. Despite all this, I have times when I feel unsure of my next step. This is especially true when I am confronted unexpectedly by something new.
When I am struggling, my first thought is to throw out whatever I’m doing and start over. In one of my first years of teaching, my music room was across the hall from the art room. Debbie, the art teacher, shared that many students would start their art assignment and then want a new paper or an eraser so they could start again. I watched as she instructed her students to learn to use their starting “mistake” and make it work in their new plan. What a great life lesson!
We can’t always erase our mistakes, but we can use them as a starting point to begin again. When we treat someone poorly, we can recognize and admit our action, and begin the task of making up for our wrongdoing. Mistakes are an opportunity for growth.
God sees us as we are and accepts us as we practice and learn to love one another. Despite our shortcomings, God provides us with everything we need to become the one we were created to be.
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! Our lives are full of challenges, but by your love and mercy, you allow us time for productive struggling so that we may grow strong. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Thank God for the opportunity to try again!
Not perfect, FORGIVEN! Pastor Liz
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