Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "The Bracelet of Blessing" for Monday, 15 September 2014 - Read 1 Corinthians 14: Prayer Language1-3 Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth. If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him. But when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you’re letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.
The Lord said to Abram, “I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”(Genesis 12:2 (NRSV))
Working in a hospital, where I care for the sick and their families, I have many opportunities to love others and to offer them encouragement. One way I reach out to people is through a special kind of bracelet that I wear. The bracelet has 10 links with Christian symbols. When people see the bracelet and comment on how beautiful it is, I take it off and put it on their wrist as a sign of my love and concern for them. Often, in response, they voice varied concerns, including a need for prayer for themselves or someone who is sick and hurting. Some just need me to listen to them.
As I give away more and more bracelets, I feel my faith growing stronger because I know God is working through me to encourage others and to give them hope. Every time I reach out to others, I feel blessed that my actions are bringing glory to God.
The Author: D. Hodskins (Kentucky)
Thought for the Day: Today I will offer words of encouragement, kindness, and love to a stranger.
Prayer: Healing God, you have blessed us all with a capacity to encourage and to love. Work through us to bring hope to your people as we use our gifts to glorify you. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: Hospital employees and volunteers
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