Upper Room Daily Devotions ~ Monday, 4 November 2013 ~ “Slippers or Shoes? ~ READ: Comfort and Assurance in God’s Presence ~ Psalm 63

Upper Room Daily Devotions ~ Monday, 4 November 2013 ~ “Slippers or Shoes? ~ READ: Comfort and Assurance in God’s Presence ~ Psalm 63:A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah.

1 God, you are my God.

I will earnestly seek you.

My soul thirsts for you.

My flesh longs for you,

in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.

2 So I have seen you in the sanctuary,

watching your power and your glory.

3 Because your loving kindness is better than life,

my lips shall praise you.

4 So I will bless you while I live.

I will lift up my hands in your name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food.

My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,

6 when I remember you on my bed,

and think about you in the night watches.

7 For you have been my help.

I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul stays close to you.

Your right hand holds me up.

9 But those who seek my soul, to destroy it,

shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall be given over to the power of the sword.

They shall be jackal food.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God.

Everyone who swears by him will praise him,

for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.(Messianic WEB)

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.~-Mark 1:35 (NIV)

A wail came from the back seat of the car as we journeyed out for a trip. “I’ve got my slippers on!” my niece lamented. Somehow in the excitement of the anticipated day, my niece had simply scampered into the car forgetting to change into her shoes, or indeed to prepare in any way. We still tease my niece about that incident at times, but it is a good reminder to me of the need to be prepared and to be spiritually ready for the day ahead. Having only my slippers on would mean I was ill-equipped and inappropriately dressed. Likewise, if I’m to be ready to follow God’s truths in this needy world, I need to spend time in prayer and in focusing on God’s word at the start of the day. How easy it is to rush into a new day without stopping to be properly prepared! Jesus set the best example. May God give all of us the grace to recognize our need and to make the time to be spiritually well heeled!~~The Author ~ Hilary Allen (Somerset, England)

Thought for the Day: To see a picture of Hilary’s niece, go to devotional.upperroom.org/blog.

Prayer: Dear Father, today we seek your forgiveness, your protection, your enabling power and strength for all this day will bring. Amen.

Prayer Focus: Those who feel unprepared

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