Morning Devotional 061225 Be of Good Cheer

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

June 12, 2025

Romans 8:35-39

35 Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, We are being put to death all day long for your sake. We are treated like sheep for slaughter. 37 But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. 38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.

Good Morning! Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 8:31 begins, “If God is for us, then who can be against us?” 

God created us out of love. Throughout the Bible, God promises to be with us always. We read the stories of our ancestors who overcame insurmountable odds. When things are beyond explanation, I believe that is evidence of God’s presence. 

Think of barely avoided accidents or something that makes you stop for no expected reason, only to realize that you were needed in that space in that moment. These are God moments. 

In moments of doubt, these God moments allow us to bolster our resolve to move forward. My best example of God’s presence in a time of desolation is the wax Christ candle that remained standing on the altar at Rose Park after the fire. Everything was black, the wooden surfaces were blistered, and it seemed that evil had won the day. Then, in the bleak darkness, I saw the white, wax Christ candle. It was unmelted and mostly white, except for the dusting of the debris that littered the air.

How can a wax candle survive the heat that melted the organ keys, liquified the altar candles, and blackened the walls and ceilings?  Only God can do such a thing as this!

In these moments, I proclaim, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded...” I rest secure in the understanding that, “If God is for me, then who is against me??”

Giving Lord, you bless us abundantly! Thank you for the visible reminders you place along our paths. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Be of good cheer! God has overcome the world! Pastor Liz