Morning Devotional 041225 Peace to You!

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  April 12, 2025

1 Peter 5:8-11

8 Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith. Do so in the knowledge that your fellow believers are enduring the same suffering throughout the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be power forever and always. Amen.

Good Morning. To God be the glory!

Be clearheaded! Keep alert! These are challenging words for us this morning. There is so much going on that it is easy to become distracted. Sometimes, we feel as if we’ve dived headfirst into a pool of chaos. Other times, we sit on the edge of the pool, overwhelmed, and unable to move. 

We are bombarded by social media posts and viral videos that show all that is wrong with the world. How can we possibly clear our heads and stay alert? Only by God’s grace can this happen. Through Christ, we are given the opportunity to escape the madness. 

Jesus says, “My peace, God’s peace, I give to you.” Again, only by the grace of God may we receive this offer. Evil has a strong hold on us and this world. Christ came to save us from evil and our sinful ways. 

Release the distractions that are filling the space within you reserved for peace. Then allow the peace to wash over you and renew you in the eternal glory of Jesus Christ.

Loving Lord, Maker of all things! Our earthly ways are in direct conflict with the ones you call us to be. Help us let go of our past so we can move forward on our path of righteousness. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Banish the things that trouble you and envelop yourself in God’s peace.

Shalom! Peace to you! Pastor Liz