Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
November 5, 2024
Philippians 4:4-9
4 Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! 5 Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. 7 Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. 8 From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. 9 Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
Good Morning! Again, I say, Rejoice!
This passage has me singing this morning. Many people are stressed over today’s election. We do not know who will be elected or how people will react to the results. I do know that I am not in control of these things.
We could sit around all day worrying about these things. Some have been concerned for months, and the stress has taken control of their lives. It is easy to fall into the mindset of the old children’s tale character, Henny Penny. One day, Henny-penny was picking up corn in the backyard when—whack!—an acorn hit her on the head. "Goodness gracious me!" said Henny-penny, "the sky's going to fall; I must go and tell the King."
God offers us a better choice in today’s passage. Paul reminds us to focus on what is good, pure, holy, admirable, and worthy of praise. Like all things worth, we must practice looking for these things in our lives. They are there for all who seek Christ.
9 Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
The choice is ours: sit and worry yourself into a dither or look to Christ for peace.
I choose divine peace on this day of earthly decisions.
Dear Lord, We are your children! Our earthly worries can consume us, but you are waiting for us to give them to you. Thank you for the offer of peace! Help us accept your peace. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Surrender all worries to God!
Focus on the world through Christ’s eyes! Pastor Liz
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