Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 14, 2022
Read Isaiah 55:8-13
8 My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans. 10 Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and don’t return there without watering the earth, making it conceive and yield plants and providing seed to the sower and food to the eater, 11 so is my word that comes from my mouth; it does not return to me empty. Instead, it does what I want, and accomplishes what I intend. 12 Yes, you will go out with celebration, and you will be brought back in peace. Even the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you; all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 In place of the thorn the cypress will grow; in place of the nettle the myrtle will grow. This will attest to the LORD’s stature, an enduring reminder that won’t be removed.
Good morning! Rejoice always, pray continuously, and give thanks for everything.
We are so blessed by God in every aspect of our lives. Everything part of us comes from God who intricately wove us into his likeness. Upon our creation, God gave us dominion over the earth, told us to go forth, to be fruitful and multiply. When Jesus came and walked among us, he taught us to love God with our heart, soul, strength, and mind and to love one another as ourselves.
Each of us is given unique gifts from God through which we serve others. Sometimes we become so focused on doing our part, that we lose sight of the big picture. Perhaps this is due to our need to mind each detail of our task. Details are important with all that we do. One missed step can often result in challenges that require us to go back and start again.
Imagine you encounter a lost soul and you begin to spend time with this person. You share your story of God’s love and mercy in your life. You read the Bible and pray together as you work to meet the needs of this one who is lost. You rejoice as they begin moving forward towards the light of Jesus. You lift them up when they stumble over a pebble on their path. With each step you celebrate God’s love and mercy, and then one day this one who you nurtured in their faith journey accepts their own role and begins to lead others to Christ. You thank God for being your guide and blessing you.
Each detail of this task was so encompassing that you didn’t “see” what others around you were doing. When you take a moment and look around, you are in awe of all that God has done and is continuing to do. Each time we bring someone to Christ, we are completing the body of one that is the community of faith. Only God fully knows the “big picture” but we should continue our work to serve God using the gifts with which we have been blessed.
Loving and Caring God, Thank You for loving us. We praise You in all things. As the body of Christ, we are one. Each of us has been given gifts to share as we serve you. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God’s ways are always the best ways.
Accept your blessings! Pastor Liz
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