Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
September 16, 2024
Psalm 29:3-9
3 The LORD’s voice is over the waters; the glorious God thunders; the LORD is over the mighty waters. 4 The LORD’s voice is strong; the LORD’s voice is majestic. 5 The LORD’s voice breaks cedar trees yes, the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon jump around like a young bull, makes Sirion jump around like a young wild ox. 7 The LORD’s voice unleashes fiery flames; 8 the LORD’s voice shakes the wilderness yes, the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The LORD’s voice convulses the oaks, strips the forests bare, but in his temple everyone shouts, “Glory!”
Good Morning! Our God is an awesome God!
I smile when I experience God’s mystery surrounding me! This morning, as I sat communing in nature in Duck, NC, the sound of the wind filled my ears. The Lord was enveloping my presence as the sea air awakened all of my senses with sights, sounds, smells, and touch.
For me, there is something special about spending time at the beach. Yesterday, a memory popped up from a race that I completed over the sound between Nags Head and Manteo in 2013. For this race, we started at a park in Nags Head and completed an out-and-back across the sound on the old bridge.
This bridge is low to the water and has a drawbridge so boats can pass from one side to the other. As is customary, it was a windy day, but I was amazed by the loudness of the wind when I was crossing the bridge. It was almost deafening. Then I went up the rise to the draw section, and there was a small control building to my right. Suddenly, there was absolute quiet and a peaceful feeling washed over me.
I think God speaks as deemed necessary by the situation. In the Psalm, God’s voice is strong and thunderous. When Elijah awaited God's words in the cave, God’s voice, still and small, followed the wind, fire, and earthquake. God needed Elijah to see the powerful and gentle sides of God so that Elijah could understand and accept his new pathway.
We need to be ready to listen through the noise and in the quietness. If we are closed off from God, we will not hear, no matter how he speaks.
Faithful God, Thank you for creating us. Open our ears so that we may hear your words of wisdom. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Open yourself to God as he speaks to you today.
Open yourself to God! Pastor Liz
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