Morning Devotional 081321 Let It Go!

Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room

August 13, 2021

Read Luke 12:22-34

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 There is more to life than food and more to the body than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither plant nor harvest, they have no silo or barn, yet God feeds them. You are worth so much more than birds! 25 Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? 26 If you can’t do such a small thing, why worry about the rest? 27 Notice how the lilies grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. 28 If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, how much more will God do for you, you people of weak faith! 29 Don’t chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying. 30 All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs out. No thief comes near there, and no moth destroys. 34 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.

Good Morning! Let God’s light shine through you!

Don’t Worry! Be Happy! If we could add up the many hours that we have spent worrying over our lifetime, I imagine that it would be a very large number for most of us. This would be especially true if we added all of the silly things, like what shoes should I wear or things about our appearance. What if we could go back and collect all of those minutes, hours, days and use them to serve our Lord and Savior? Think about the restless nights that you could eliminate and how you would awake refreshed instead of tired from the tossing and turning.

It’s easy to say that we will turn all of our worries to God, but most of us have a hard time truly letting go. We say the right words when we pray, and for a little while we are comforted. Slowly the fears and worries begin to creep back into our thoughts. I wish that I could say that I have a quick fix to help us with this, but I believe that as we continue along our faith journey we will continue to develop trust. God will take care of each of us.

One year ago, I could not have imagined the blessings that this past year has brought. I was grieving over the loss of my husband, my friend and was unsure of many things. God called me to serve Him in a new way that I hadn’t previously imagined. My time of discernment as I completed Lowell’s appointment to Rodes was one of the most precious times of my life. As I opened my mind to the possibilities around me, I accepted God’s challenge to me to step out in faith and become a pastor. Inherent in all of this was a great deal of uncertainty as I moved and accepted my own appointment. The more I leaned on God, the greater my blessings became. Hallelujah! I know that there are many more uncertainties in my future, but I embrace my life with love and joy.

I love the imagery used in the scriptures, the wallet that never wears out, the well that never runs dry. Our God is an awesome God who has prepared a place for us. We are called to store our treasures in heaven as we continue stepping out in faith. Our God knows us by name and calls out to us. Are you ready to give everything to God?

Loving God, Thank You for loving us. As our creator, you know everything about us. Our thoughts, our words, and our actions. May we continue to learn to let go and trust you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Relying on God opens me to new possibilities.

Let Go and Trust God! Pastor Liz