Morning Devotional 100223 Count Your Blessings

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

October 2, 2023

Psalm 28:6-9

6 Bless the LORD because he has listened to my request for mercy! 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts him. I was helped, my heart rejoiced, and I thank him with my song. 8 The LORD is his people’s strength; he is a fortress of protection for his anointed one. 9 Save your people, God! Bless your possession! Shepherd them and carry them for all time!

Good Morning. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

The past couple of weeks, the Lectionary Old Testament lessons have come from Exodus, where the Israelites are wandering in the desert. First, they grumble because they are hungry, and then they grumble because they are thirsty. They even say that God should have left them as slaves in Egypt if they were going to die in the desert.

As opposed to the grumbling, they should be looking at their blessings. God delivered them out of slavery, got them safely across the Red Sea, gave them food when hungry, and provided water when thirsty.

We, God’s children, are prone to grumbling and complaining about the things that we don’t like. Imagine a world in which everyone is focused on what is good. All that anger would melt away, and we would see that we are surrounded by beauty. God blesses us, provides for us, and promises to be with us forever. Thanks be to God! Hallelujah! Amen!

Healing God, We love you! We are stubborn. We hold onto our discontentment. O God, help us shed the hate in our hearts and make room for your love. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: How has God blessed me today?

Count your blessings! Pastor Liz