Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Keep Your Hands Up" for Wednesday, 29 October 2014 - Exodus 17:8-13

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Keep Your Hands Up" for Wednesday, 29 October 2014 - Exodus 17:8-9 Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim. Moses ordered Joshua: “Select some men for us and go out and fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will take my stand on top of the hill holding God’s staff.”
10-13 Joshua did what Moses ordered in order to fight Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. It turned out that whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. But Moses’ hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle.
Aaron and Hur held up [Moses’] hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side.(Exodus 17:12 (NRSV))
During rehabilitation for drug addiction, I accepted Christ as my Savior and invited him into my life. When I completed rehab I had a hard time finding work. I did not have much money, and a sea of temptations — both new and old — surrounded me. Then my mother fell seriously ill. At times I was in despair and on the verge of a breakdown. I prayed, but it seemed as if I was receiving no answer or support from God. However, that was not the case.
God directed me to a church where the brothers and sisters welcomed me joyfully. They prayed for me, empathized with me, helped me in whatever ways they could, and strengthened me with their words and faith and encouragement. The pastor said, “Keep your hands up (a Russian expression meaning “Don’t give up”). All will be well. You can do it. God will support you and we — your family — will be close at hand.”The youth group helped to decorate the apartment where I lived with my mother, and when she died the whole church supported me.
Now I am serving as a deacon in the church and try to be near those who need my help — so I can hold up their hands.
The Author: Stanislav Prokhorov (Samara, Russia)
Thought for the Day: God acts through us in this world.
Prayer: Dear God of encouragement, help us to see those people who need our support — and then to give it to them wholeheartedly. Amen.

Prayer focus: Those struggling with addictions
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