Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
September 3, 2021
Read Psalm 119:25-32
25 My life is stuck in the dirt. Now make me live again according to your promise! 26 I confessed my ways and you answered me. Now teach me your statutes! 27 Help me understand what your precepts are about so I can contemplate your wondrous works! 28 My spirit sags because of grief. Now raise me up according to your promise! 29 Remove all false ways from me; show mercy to me by means of your Instruction. 30 I’ve chosen the way of faithfulness; I’m set on your rules. 31 I’m holding tight to your laws, LORD. Please don’t let me be put to shame. 32 I run the same path as your commandments because you give my heart insight.
Good Morning! This is the Day that the Lord Has Made!
As I walked outside this morning, I gazed up at the clear sky in awe. As our temperatures begin to fall just a little and the humidity lowers, the stars once again become more clear. They are always there, we just can’t always see them due to clouds and haze. In the stillness of the early morning, I realize that God is always with us. Sometimes God is very visible in our lives: everywhere we turn we see signs of God. Other times our vision is blurred by the distractors blocking our view, and it seems we are alone. Just like the stars that are continually present, so is our God.
I love this translation of verse 25: My life is stuck in the dirt. In other translations, we read about being laid low in the dust. For today’s readers, this seems like a perfect metaphor to describe our lives at times. I have experienced times in my life where I was stuck in the dirt. Invariably, being stuck usually follows decisions that I make to stray from the path and do something my way and ignore God’s way. I have been known to have a stubborn streak from time to time, and maybe this is my thorn. I can convince myself that I am right and proceed confidently off of the path and into the wilds.
Amazingly, God is always there waiting for me to call no matter how long it takes for me to realize I need help. Each day is a new opportunity to find the path of righteousness and follow God’s calling.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. We are often confident that we know the best way to go. Thank you for being there to answer our call when we get lost along the way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: My path is always clearer when God is my guide.
God will guide us with love and mercy! Pastor Liz
Amen!