Morning Devotional 082325 What a Wonderful World

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

August 23, 2025

Isaiah 58:9-11

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and God will say, “I’m here.” If you remove the yoke from among you, the finger-pointing, the wicked speech; 10 if you open your heart to the hungry, and provide abundantly for those who are afflicted, your light will shine in the darkness, and your gloom will be like the noon. 11 The LORD will guide you continually and provide for you, even in parched places. He will rescue your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water that won’t run dry.

Good Morning! If my people will humble themselves and pray!

We are God’s people! God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Through God’s love, we can defeat the evil that is trying to take over our land. 

Imagine a world where everyone lives in peace! God’s world is a world without hunger, without brothers fighting brothers, without persecution of anyone who doesn’t look, act, or sound like us. Just imagining such a place brings me a glimpse of peace as I pray this morning. 

How do we get from where we are right now to this idyllic world? It begins with love: love for God, love for self, love for one another, and love for God’s marvelous handiwork. “This is hard,” we think. God says, “Yes, it is, but I am giving you the power to make it happen. There will be challenges and setbacks, but through faith, you will endure.”  

It’s up to us to start the process by sharing the love of God with the world. We can’t give up on every challenge because we hold the key to unlocking God’s peace. What a wonderful world this would be. 

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself, What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white

The bright blessed day. The dark sacred night

And I think to myself, What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands saying, "How do you do?"

They're really saying I love you

I hear babies cry; I watch them grow

They'll learn much more than I'll ever know

And I think to myself, What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself, What a wonderful world

Giving Lord, you bless us abundantly! We see what needs to change. Help us share your love with the world. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: It’s up to us! Start the transformation today!

If you can dream it, you can do it! Pastor Liz