Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 24, 2023
Read Isaiah 55:6:13
6 Seek the LORD when he can still be found; call him while he is yet near. 7 Let the wicked abandon their ways and the sinful their schemes. Let them return to the LORD so that he may have mercy on them, to our God, because he is generous with forgiveness. 8 My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans. 10 Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and don’t return there without watering the earth, making it conceive and yield plants and providing seed to the sower and food to the eater, 11 so is my word that comes from my mouth; it does not return to me empty. Instead, it does what I want, and accomplishes what I intend. 12 Yes, you will go out with celebration, and you will be brought back in peace. Even the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you; all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 In place of the thorn the cypress will grow; in place of the nettle the myrtle will grow. This will attest to the LORD’s stature, an enduring reminder that won’t be removed.
Good Morning, Even the mountains and the hills will burst into song!
Each year, spring is a special time, but I especially love spring in the mountains of Virginia. During winter, we are given the opportunity to see the rock faces and formations through the leafless trees. This is always amazing to me, but when spring arrives, the mountains begin to burst forth in brilliant color from the redbuds, dogwoods, azaleas, mountain laurels, and the rhododendron. The beautiful colors are the song of which Isaiah speaks: the song that causes us to look to the mountains and gaze upon God’s glory.
1I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121
The other part of this passage that we must always remember is 8 My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As those made in the image of God, we often become self-absorbed and even haughty in our own self-image. We puff up our egos and think that we are in control and that we can and will handle anything that comes along to block our chosen path. So many problems with the words in that sentence.
We are not in control.
We can’t handle things without God.
God chooses our path.
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
This all leads us back to the need to humble ourselves before God, our Creator. Jesus came to teach us by His example how to lead a life of humility. Sadly, this is in direct contradiction to all the world's values. That darn “tractor beam” (too much Star Wars and Star Trek this week) is pulling us into the darkness. We get curious and just put in “one toe”, and we’re caught in the beam. Even when we fight it, the pull is so strong. We can’t defeat it on our own. Right then and there, we must admit our weakness to God and ask to be saved from our self-righteousness.
Only by the grace of God are we saved from ourselves. Praise be to God, who loves us no matter what! Despite our failings and faults, God is there with the power that is stronger than all evil to guide us back to the light.
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. God, we put You to the test each time we try to take charge and enact our own plans. Thank you for loving us anyway. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I can trust that God’s answers to my prayers will lead me on the right path.
God’s ways are amazing! Pastor Liz
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