Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
November 6, 2022
Read Philippians 1:4-11
4 I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. 5 I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. 6 I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus. 7 I have good reason to think this way about all of you because I keep you in my heart. You are all my partners in God’s grace, both during my time in prison and in the defense and support of the gospel. 8 God is my witness that I feel affection for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 This is my prayer: that your love might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight. 10 I pray this so that you will be able to decide what really matters and so you will be sincere and blameless on the day of Christ. 11 I pray that you will then be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from Jesus Christ, in order to give glory and praise to God.
Good Morning, This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Being a participant in a fellowship of believers is a great blessing. When we are together we are stronger than any one of us individually. In times of hardship, each of us provides support as we use the gifts that we are given. These gifts come through the grace of God.
Christ does not call us to race through our lives like a sprinter whose only goal is to reach the finish line first. Through the Holy Spirit, we are to work together to grow in our faith. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Hebrews 10:35 "And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life." 1 John 2:25
To receive eternal life we must endure to the end. The race that we are running is not a sprint, but a lifelong journey. Work like the energizer bunny who keeps going and going and going. There will be trials and struggles along the way, but we will not be alone. To prepare for the journey, we must lay our burdens down so that we can persevere. We must keep our eyes focused on Christ as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into the ones we were created to be. Join in the fellowship of believers so that you may be supported with every step of your journey.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. You created us, but You gave us the choice to follow You. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Through the Spirit, I am growing to be more like Christ.
Are you ready for the journey? Pastor Liz
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