DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2018
Dear Lord, thank you for giving us another day to experience something new. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:9-13, NIV). Amen.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV))
When my friends used to ask, “What’s new in your life?” I didn’t know how to answer. I would think, What is happening in my life that is brand new? What can I tell them?
But one day God gave me a new idea of how to respond. Now, when people ask me what’s new in my life, I say: “You know, absolutely everything is new.” I say that because today is a new day that will never happen again. And on this day everything is new. Today there will be new insights from God, new encounters, new opportunities for me to share the love of Christ, new service opportunities, and new blessings.
Each day God offers us the opportunity to renew our relationships with our neighbors. What’s new? Everything — because every day brings something new and gives us the chance to experience and share God’s love in new ways.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
When my friends used to ask, “What’s new in your life?” I didn’t know how to answer. I would think, What is happening in my life that is brand new? What can I tell them?
But one day God gave me a new idea of how to respond. Now, when people ask me what’s new in my life, I say: “You know, absolutely everything is new.” I say that because today is a new day that will never happen again. And on this day everything is new. Today there will be new insights from God, new encounters, new opportunities for me to share the love of Christ, new service opportunities, and new blessings.
Each day God offers us the opportunity to renew our relationships with our neighbors. What’s new? Everything — because every day brings something new and gives us the chance to experience and share God’s love in new ways.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
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Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,[Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17, 66:22] for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. 2 Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.[Revelation 21:3 Leviticus 26:11–12; Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jeremiah 31:33(34); Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.”
5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’”
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
How can I do something new for God and my neighbor today?
PRAYER FOCUS:
Those seeking a new relationship with God
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5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’”
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How can I do something new for God and my neighbor today?
Those seeking a new relationship with God
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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