Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 26, 2022
Read Psalm 50:1-15
1 From the rising of the sun to where it sets, God, the LORD God, speaks, calling out to the earth. 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines brightly. 3 Our God is coming; he won’t keep quiet. A devouring fire is before him; a storm rages all around him. 4 God calls out to the skies above and to the earth in order to judge his people: 5 “Bring my faithful to me, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6 The skies proclaim his righteousness because God himself is the judge. Selah 7 “Listen, my people, I will now speak; Israel, I will now testify against you. I am God—your God! 8 I’m not punishing you for your sacrifices or for your entirely burned offerings, which are always before me. 9 I won’t accept bulls from your house or goats from your corrals 10 because every forest animal already belongs to me, as do the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every mountain bird; even the insects in the fields are mine. 12 Even if I were hungry, I wouldn’t tell you because the whole world and everything in it already belongs to me. 13 Do I eat bulls’ meat? Do I drink goats’ blood? 14 Offer God a sacrifice of thanksgiving! Fulfill the promises you made to the Most High! 15 Cry out to me whenever you are in trouble; I will deliver you, then you will honor me.”
Good morning! This is a good day to praise God.
How many times must we read that God is with us until we truly believe? Our God is an awesome God who is ready to listen, ready to comfort, and ready to protect us. With each rise and fall of our chest as we breathe, God is right there. Yet, we still cling to our fear and anxieties that grow from manmade sources.
Talk to God! Give God your fears and anxieties! With those filling your being, there is no room to accept the peace that God provides for us. Without the immense time that it takes to try to conquer our fears, we now have time to spend with God. It’s okay to let those things go. It’s funny how those things that we dislike become such a part of us that we can’t seem to cast them away. Imagine a favorite sock that has developed a hole in the toe, yet it remains in your sock drawer. You don’t wear it because it causes discomfort, but you don’t discard it because it is your favorite.
We love to talk and complain about our anxiety. Some people even seem to brag about their anxiety as if it is a sign of success. When we feel overwhelmed, we might take meds to try to quiet our fears. Our solution is simple and it’s right before us: talk to God and give everything to God. Make time each day to thank God for your blessings and share with God your fears and anxieties. Through God’s grace and mercy, you will be relieved of your burdens. When you are freed from fear and anxiety, the peace that God promises will fill the vacuum created by the release of your worries.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. It is so simple, but it is hard. We know that You are there waiting to help when we cry out, but we seem to think that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Help us in our human frailty to give ourselves to You. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I will spend more time with God today.
Give everything to God! Pastor Liz
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