Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 19, 2022
Read Exodus 13:17-22
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn’t lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though that was the shorter route. God thought, If the people have to fight and face war, they will run back to Egypt. 18 So God led the people by the roundabout way of the Reed Sea desert. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt ready for battle. 19 Moses took with him Joseph’s bones just as Joseph had made Israel’s sons promise when he said to them, “When God takes care of you, you must carry my bones out of here with you.” 20 They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 The LORD went in front of them during the day in a column of clouds to guide them and at night in a column of lightning to give them light. This way they could travel during the day and at night. 22 The column of cloud during the day and the column of lightning at night never left its place in front of the people.
Good Morning, We follow a long, winding road on our way to glory.
As I walked out this morning, I felt the cleanness in the morning air as I listened to the chorus of birds singing. After a moment of embracing the moment, I lifted praises to God.
One of the most interesting activities that I was asked to complete when I began the candidacy program to become a licensed pastor, was to draw my river of life. We were given my things that we should include as we developed our river: major life events, important people, times when we felt close to God, and times when we faced trouble.
During this process, I was enlightened by the flow of my river. There were times when time flew by and other times when time seemed to stop. The fast-flowing times mirrored when most things were going well. Whereas time seemed to stop as my river got caught up churning among the rocks and obstacles along the way.
Likewise, I was interested in the meandering path (the scenic route), that my life followed. I represented each change in my life as a turn in the river that seemed to bend aimlessly at times. My riverbed grew as new people joined my life, and my river split into new branches as my children began families of their own. Our lives create an amazing path through the land of the living. When you begin to think about those who cross your path along your journey, it is amazing to see God at work in our lives.
I suppose there are those who wish that their lives remained straight and narrow, but for me, I love the richness of my life as my stream continues to meander along God’s path for me. It is in the journey that we learn to love and live life as children of our gracious God.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We know that your ways are not our ways. Help us to embrace the meandering of our rivers of life. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Regardless of the route, I will embrace God’s journey for me.
Embrace the twists and turns of your life! Pastor Liz
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