Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 16, 2023
Proverbs 4:10-19
10 Listen, my son, and take in my speech, then the years of your life will be many. 11 I teach you the path of wisdom. I lead you in straight courses. 12 When you walk, you won’t be hindered; when you run, you won’t stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction; don’t slack off; protect it, for it is your life. 14 Don’t go on the way of the wicked; don’t walk on the path of evil people. 15 Avoid it! Don’t turn onto it; stay off of it and keep going! 16 They don’t sleep unless they do evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. 17 They eat the bread of evil, and they drink the wine of violence. 18 The way of the righteous is like morning light that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day. 19 The path of the wicked is like deep darkness; they don’t know where they will stumble.
Good Morning, Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t slack off; protect it, for it is your life.
Holding on to instruction is not as easy as it seems. I think about the instruction books that lie around my house for a variety of items. It’s funny how that isn’t the first thing I turn to when the device is acting up. I try a variety of fixes, and when all of those fail, then I consider looking at the instruction manual. Notice that word consider that I just used! Even after my own attempts fail, I still don’t automatically look up the instructions.
This seems to mimic our faith journeys. How many times do we have a challenge that we try to fix “our way?” The Bible is our instruction book for our lives, but is this the first place we turn when we are troubled? Some may answer, “Yes,” but I’m guessing many of us try our own solutions first, and when nothing works, we turn to God.
10 Listen, my son, and take in my speech, then the years of your life will be many. 11 I teach you the path of wisdom. I lead you in straight courses. 12 When you walk, you won’t be hindered; when you run, you won’t stumble.
Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.
The answers are there for those who seek them. Seek and be blessed, for your path will be filled with love, peace, hope, and joy.
Loving God, We thank you! You created us in perfection, but we get lost when we think we know what is best. Thank you for waiting for us to return. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I know love, peace, and joy when I walk with God.
Open the Instructions! Pastor Liz
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