Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 27, 2023
Matthew 6:25-36
25 “Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? 27 Who among you by worrying, can add a single moment to your life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. 29 But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. 30 If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? 31 Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Good Morning, Bless the Lord, O my soul!
A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to take a trip to the beach. I have often shared how putting my toes in the ocean is one way to connect with God. I made my travel plans and couldn’t wait for the day to arrive. I would stay with friends in Shallotte and visit Oak Island and Holden Beach. These are places near and dear to my heart. As the day approached, I suddenly had a pang of sadness. The last time that I visited here, Lowell and I came together. Over the past twenty years, we made countless trips together here, and Oak Island was our special place of peace.
Yesterday, I made my trip to Oak Island. My first order of business was to get my toes in the ocean. As I crossed the dune, I felt the sand between my toes as I took each step. I felt my heart leap in anticipation of getting to the water. As the first wave of water covered my toes, I felt all of my worries leave me. I thanked God and embraced the coolness of the water. Filled with new strength and great peace, I walked a two-mile walk that I had traveled so many times. My heart sang with the calls of the seagulls. A great smile lit up my face with each Kamakazi dive of the pelicans. I had no more worries, and I was filled with joy. I visited our favorite places as the precious memories flooded my soul. When I sat on his favorite swing overlooking the mouth of the Cape Fear River, I felt Lowell sitting with me as my tears flowed freely. God, Lowell, and I came together in a sacred space. Bless the Lord, oh my soul.
Jesus taught us to focus on what is good and what is Holy. 33 Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Putting my toes in the ocean is a way to let go of my worries. When I feel weighed down by my current life events, I go to verse 34. As I read, “Tomorrow will worry about itself,” I laugh at my desire to be in control and say, “Ok, God, I give this to you.” Then the memory of the cool ocean wave lapping over my toes washes away my troubles. Through my laughter and my tears, God’s grace endures.
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. You are with us always. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I will not lose hope, for God will provide.
Let go of your worries! Pastor Liz
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