The Upper Room Daily Devotional – “Snow Angels” Monday, 25 November 2013

The Upper Room Daily Devotional – “Snow Angels” Monday, 25 November 2013

Read Romans 5: Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access[b] to this grace in which we stand; and we[c] boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we[d] also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (NRSV)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.(Romans 12:12 (NIV))

As a child growing up in Michigan, I looked forward to snow in winter. I would get bundled up, go out into the crisp, cold air, and make snow angels. Then, I would come back into the warm kitchen. The hot cup of chocolate on my cold fingers was comforting. What joy! However, at the age of eight, I was afflicted with polio and could not go out into the cold anymore. Many faithful family members and friends prayed for me, and I recovered enough to be able to attend church, to graduate from college, to marry, to work 30 years, to raise two wonderful children, and to love and play with my grandchildren. In recent years, polio has afflicted me with new weakness. When I began to see my strength and stamina diminish, my hope became a flickering candle and my patience waned. But I continued to pray faithfully. As I prayed out of my despair — viewing my glass as half empty — I gradually began to feel God’s love and to see my glass as half full. It is as if God were telling me, “I pour out my abundant and lavish love on you and fill your glass full to overflowing so you will not thirst.” Some things — such as tolerating the cold — I cannot do, but now I see clearly what I still can do. I still can love and laugh, worship, praise and pray, sing and serve — and so much more.(The Author-Dwight E. Robeson (Maryland, USA))

Thought for the Day: Go to devotional.upperroom.org/blog to see a photo of Dwight with his grandkids.

Prayer: Dear God of abundant and lavish love, we pray for your help to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Amen.

Prayer Focus Those whose hope is waning

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