Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
October 13, 2022
Read Acts 27:13-26
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they could carry out their plan. They pulled up anchor and sailed closely along the coast of Crete. 14 Before long, a hurricane-strength wind known as a northeaster swept down from Crete. 15 The ship was caught in the storm and couldn’t be turned into the wind. So we gave in to it, and it carried us along. 16 After sailing under the shelter of an island called Cauda, we were able to control the lifeboat only with difficulty. 17 They brought the lifeboat aboard, then began to wrap the ship with cables to hold it together. Fearing they might run aground on the sandbars of the Gulf of Syrtis, they lowered the anchor and let the ship be carried along. 18 We were so battered by the violent storm that the next day the men began throwing cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they picked up the ship’s gear and hurled it into the sea. 20 When neither the sun nor the moon appeared for many days and the raging storm continued to pound us, all hope of our being saved from this peril faded. 21 For a long time no one had eaten. Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have complied with my instructions not to sail from Crete. Then we would have avoided this damage and loss. 22 Now I urge you to be encouraged. Not one of your lives will be lost, though we will lose the ship. 23 Last night an angel from the God to whom I belong and whom I worship stood beside me. 24 The angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar! Indeed, God has also graciously given you everyone sailing with you.’ 25 Be encouraged, men! I have faith in God that it will be exactly as he told me. 26 However, we must run aground on some island.”
Good morning, Today is a great day to praise God.
I am later with my post this morning because I had to fly to Atlanta this morning for my face-to-face seminary class. I love to fly and Charlottesville is an easy airport from which to travel. I was worried however about using Uber for my trip to the hotel at Emory. My son had talked me through the process, but still I was a bit anxious. I’m happy to report that all is well and the Uber experience was very easy.
Each of us has encountered stormy times in our lives. Some are small storms through which you still see glimpses of light. Others are raging storms when you lose sight of everything as you wander aimlessly in the dark.
When we feel lost or overwhelmed, God is by our sides waiting for us to call out for help. Even when we make choices that are in opposition to God’s will, God is here for us. We must ask for God’s mercy and then listen for our answer. When we are offered mercy, we must reach out and take it. We will miss our gift if we just passively wait. The giving and receiving of gifts takes interaction between us and God.
We must often give up something like Paul’s group losing their ship. But the loss of a ship is insignificant to the gift of life, not just life, but eternal life.
When we turn over control and trust in God, we will receive the glimmers of hope needed to propel us to the light.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. All of these 2000 years later, we still struggle with letting go. Thank you for giving us the time we need to get it right. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Trusting God creates hope in the heart.
Trust and Obey! Pastor Liz
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