Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 11, 2023
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
3 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! He is the compassionate Father and God of all comfort. 4 He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble. We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God. 5 That is because we receive so much comfort through Christ in the same way that we share so many of Christ’s sufferings. 6 So if we have trouble, it is to bring you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is to bring you comfort from the experience of endurance while you go through the same sufferings that we also suffer. 7 Our hope for you is certain, because we know that as you are partners in suffering, so also you are partners in comfort.
Good Morning, There’s within my heart a melody!
I believe that we must start each day with a purpose. Take a moment and remember a very productive day and contrast that with a day that was not. What was the difference? Without direction or purpose, we are lost. Imagine going for a walk or a drive with no destination. How would you know if you had arrived? You can’t!
It is important to say that I don’t love creating agendas or to-do lists, and I love a good spontaneous moment, but having a purpose seems to supersede all of this. I am going to suggest that we start small with this. Perhaps our purpose could simply be to spend more time with God: praying, praising, communing, and giving thanks. Another possible purpose is to work on being intentionally present in the moment, or you could choose to help someone in need.
Within our purposeful living, we will celebrate and we will struggle, but God promises to be with us always. As God comforts us, we learn to comfort others. This creates this beautiful circle of love and comfort that grows as each new believer joins the circle.
Those who choose to follow Christ have a destination. We must arise each day filled with the purpose of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. All who purposely choose God are blessed by the full measure of God’s love, grace, and mercy.
Knowing God, Thank You for being with us. Thank you! You offer us love, grace, and mercy. Help us humbly accept your gift! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God knows my needs and will comfort me.
What is your purpose today? Pastor Liz
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