The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Ssunday, 29 July 2018 "Never Lonely" by Ravina P. Diarsa (Gujarat, India) John 14:15-19

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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Ssunday, 29 July 2018 "Never Lonely" by Ravina P. Diarsa (Gujarat, India) John 14:15-19
Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18 (KJV))
By the end of 2014, I found myself alone in our house nearly every day. My husband was working. Our daughter had married; our son had left for a job over 600 miles away. I began to sorely miss the joy and intimacy of blessed family ties — all of us living together in our home for 32 years. It was difficult for me to adjust to these changed circumstances. Sure, there was endless household work to attend to and friendly neighbors and television to fill up my time, but loneliness weighed heavily upon me. Every new day brought new worries.
However, I praise our living God for not leaving me alone. Every day God communicated with me as I read the Bible. God’s promise given in Joshua 1:5 — “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (NIV) — comforted and strengthened me. I placed my worries in God’s hands. I prayed for others. I grew in my faith as I learned to trust God more and more. This brought amazing peace into my heart.
My circumstances haven’t changed, but my attitude has. I take comfort in Jesus’ name. We have no friend like Jesus.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for walking with us in our day-to-day lives and for assuring us that we can always come to you for help. Amen
TODAY'S READING: John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands; 16 and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. 17 The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you. 18 I will not leave you orphans — I am coming to you. 19 In just a little while, the world will no longer see me; but you will see me. Because I live, you too will live. (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: My loneliness can be an opportunity to meet Jesus.
PRAYER FOCUS: Those who are lonely
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