Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
September 6, 2022
Read: 1 Peter 5:6-11
6 Therefore, humble yourselves under God’s power so that he may raise you up in the last day. 7 Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. 8 Be clear headed. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith. Do so in the knowledge that your fellow believers are enduring the same suffering throughout the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be power forever and always. Amen.
Good morning! Standfast in your faith!
As I sit and gaze out at the cloudy sky, I consider this idea of humbling ourselves to God. What does this mean? We are called to leave everything at the foot of the cross: our sins, our burdens, our distractions, everything that stands between us and God.
It is easy to let go of things that don’t matter to us. Think of when we deny ourselves of something during Lent. I remember as a young person giving up things I didn’t like or want to do. Hmmm . . . like beets, or dusting, or any aggravating task. When we work to give up something we like, even for the six weeks of Lent, it is much more of a challenge. One year, I decided to give up soda which was how I got my caffeine fix each day. To fill that void, I learned to drink coffee.
Hmmm . . . when we lay our sins at the cross, do we simply exchange them for another, like changing from soda to coffee? What about those burdens we lay down and give to Christ? How many times do we gradually take them back and begin worrying again?
Humbling ourselves is so hard! We must not give up because through the Holy Spirit working within us, we will be transformed if we let go and let God lead us. We are not promised a life without burdens and challenges, but we are promised that we will never be alone. The cross we are asked to bear is too heavy for us to carry alone. Allow Christ into your heart and be given the strength to walk in faith.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We are once again talking about turning over our lives to You. This is a perpetual challenge for us. Thank you for giving us the time we need to practice. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God helps me carry my burdens.
TRUST GOD! Pastor Liz
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