Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 11, 2023
Psalm 46:1-11
1 God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. 2 That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, 3 when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams gladden God’s city, the holiest dwelling of the Most High. 5 God is in that city. It will never crumble. God will help it when morning dawns. 6 Nations roar; kingdoms crumble. God utters his voice; the earth melts. 7 The LORD of heavenly forces is with us! The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah 8 Come, see the LORD’s deeds, what devastation he has imposed on the earth 9 bringing wars to an end in every corner of the world, breaking the bow and shattering the spear, burning chariots with fire. 10 “That’s enough! Now know that I am God! I am exalted among all nations; I am exalted throughout the world!” 11 The LORD of heavenly forces is with us! The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah
Good Morning; Take in the fragrance of a new day!
Our lives represent a journey. Many of our daily journeys are those basic no-frills excursions from point A to point B, otherwise known as the daily grind. We plan occasional vacations to exciting destinations so that we may vary our journey. If this were the scope of our existence, most of us would think that this is a good life, but would we be satisfied with the predictability of this journey? How many of us would begin looking for variations to our journeys? This “perfect” life sounds too regimented to me, and I begin to wonder if I’m living in some matrix, as many books and movies describe. What if we take a different path today? Will our world crumble around us?
1 God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, 3 when its waters roar, and rage when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.
Our God, the God of Jacob, promises to be with us every day in times of trouble and times of celebration. God blesses us with free will so we can make decisions along our journey. We are not stuck in a preprogrammed world without choices. God invites us to follow Christ but does not force this choice upon us. Christ teaches us to live fully and enjoy God’s abundant blessings, joys, and signs.
With free will come the challenges that help us grow, blossom, and mature into faithful Christians. Yes, we will have struggles, but some of our most amazing moments will be birthed from these struggles. Life itself begins with a struggle. God goes before us and calls us to listen so that we might find the way to where we belong. Selah! Thanks be to God. Embrace your life with all its struggles and blessings, and know that the kingdom of God is Here and Now!
Loving God, We thank you! A life without struggles sounds wonderful, but please help us see that joy comes from the struggles. You are with us always, and when the battle becomes too great, you will take us by the hand and lift us back to solid ground. Thank you! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God is beside me through life’s uphill struggles.
God is with us! Pastor Liz
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