Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Welcome Back!” for Tuesday, 2 December 2014 - Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-27

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Welcome Back!” for Tuesday, 2 December 2014 - Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-24 God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
    his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
    How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
    He’s all I’ve got left.
25-27 God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
    to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
    quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young
    to stick it out through the hard times.
The Lord said to Jacob, “I am with you now, I will protect you everywhere you go.”[Genesis 28:15 (CEB)]
Recently my wife and I travelled overseas for our first holiday in a decade. Not wanting to take my heavy Bible, I purchased a small New Testament, with Psalms and Proverbs. I also packed my copy of The Upper Room for our visit, fully intending to continue my devotional reading each day.
Although it was a wonderful trip, we had only seven days away; everything seemed rushed. When I met my two brothers for the first time in 32 years and visited my old homes on the other side of the world, I never made the time to read my Bible or the meditations at all. But my intentions had been good!
What a delight it was to return home to Australia and to catch up on two or three daily meditations each day, plunging myself back into the word of God! I became re-inspired. I also realized that God always waits for us to return, no matter how near or far we travel, or for whatever reasons we neglect to spend time with God. Always patient and welcoming, God rejoices in our presence.
The Author: John Porter (New South Wales, Australia)
Thought for the Day: God is always ready to welcome us back.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your constant presence in our lives. Forgive us when we distance ourselves from you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: Family members who are reconnecting
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