Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 13, 2022
Read Psalm 130:1-8
1 I cry out to you from the depths, LORD 2 my Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy! 3 If you kept track of sins, LORD my Lord, who would stand a chance? 4 But forgiveness is with you that’s why you are honored. 5 I hope, LORD. My whole being hopes, and I wait for God’s promise. 6 My whole being waits for my Lord more than the night watch waits for morning; yes, more than the night watch waits for morning! 7 Israel, wait for the LORD! Because faithful love is with the LORD; because great redemption is with our God! 8 He is the one who will redeem Israel from all its sin.
Good morning! God will redeem us from all our sin.
Last night provided quite a display of God’s majesty with thunder, lightning, rain, and wind coming from every direction. It was an especially long storm that continued long into the night. This morning everything is wet and refreshed from the summer storm. For the moment the air smells clean and the stickiness is gone, but it’s summer so those things will return soon.
For all of our earthly knowledge and wisdom, we are baffled by God’s ways and God’s time. The way we calculate and manage time seems very reasonable to us, so when our cries to God for help take longer than we imagine, we feel neglected. I don’t think that there is any way to reconcile this understanding until we meet face to face with our Lord in heaven. For now there are verses in Scripture to comfort us and remind us of all that God promises.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. 7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 BSB)
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)
Perhaps our best earthly example of the passage of time that is unexplainable is when we as parents and grandparents, see our children and grandchildren grow up so quickly. In the blink of an eye they go from being toddlers to grown. What can we do? We must not waste even a moment to be present with those we love and live our lives as if today is our last. Spend each moment joyfully serving our Lord as children of God. Let God take care of everything else.
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:32-36 NIV)
Loving and Caring God, Thank You for loving us. Help us give our worries to You and believe in Your plans for our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: When I have confidence in God, even my waiting can be joyful.
Let joy form your countenance! Pastor Liz
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