Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
Feb. 7, 2025
Psalm 146:1-10
1 Praise the LORD! Let my whole being praise the LORD! 2 I will praise the LORD with all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Don’t trust leaders; don’t trust any human beings there’s no saving help with them! 4 Their breath leaves them, then they go back to the ground. On that very same day, their plans die too. 5 The person whose help is the God of Jacob the person whose hope rests on the LORD their God is truly happy! 6 God: the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, God: who is faithful forever, 7 who gives justice to people who are oppressed, who gives bread to people who are starving! The LORD: who frees prisoners. 8 The LORD: who makes the blind see. The LORD: who straightens up those who are bent low. The LORD: who loves the righteous. 9 The LORD: who protects immigrants, who helps orphans and widows, but who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn! 10 The LORD will rule forever! Zion, your God will rule from one generation to the next! Praise the LORD!
Good Morning. Let our whole beings praise the Lord!
When times are hard, it is difficult to free ourselves from doubt. Currently, our world seems to be spiraling out of control, and many are overwhelmed with the sense of impending doom. This current situation is not the first episode of human insanity, nor will it be the last.
Where do we turn to find strength and hope when all we hold dear seems to be crumbling in our grasp? Hypothetically, We could respond to the chaos by running around like chickens who have lost their heads, or we could draw into our shells of safety and wait for normalcy to return. Neither of these seems like a viable solution, so what do we do?
In times of despair and turmoil, we must return to our creator. All those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior are the protected children of God. God is waiting to provide strength to those who lean into the Gospel message of Love. In times such as this, we must return to the Bible and reread the stories of God’s people. The Bible provides instruction, gives examples, and reveals God’s plan.
Think of trying to assemble a shelf that arrives in a box with multiple pieces. You look at the picture and think, “I can do this! Just give me my tools!” You toss aside the instructions and proceed with building the shelf. At some point, you realize you have a problem, and you begin troubleshooting your work. Eventually, you retrieve the instructions and fix your mistake.
Life is one big building project! Too many times, we strike out on our own with no plan. We will handle problems as they arise. This works okay for a time, but then the big challenges present themselves, and we feel lost and overwhelmed. God is patiently waiting for our call. Reach out and accept the love, hope, joy, and peace that God lovingly shares with us.
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! You love us! We are so strong when things are going well, but we quickly fall into fear when we fail. Thank you for being there to lift us from the muck of the world. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Our faith sustains us during challenging times!
Use the tools God provides! Pastor Liz
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