The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “GOD’S WAYS” for Saturday, 23 July 2016 with Scripture: Galatians 6:7 Don’t delude yourselves: no one makes a fool of God! A person reaps what he sows. 8 Those who keep sowing in the field of their old nature, in order to meet its demands, will eventually reap ruin; but those who keep sowing in the field of the Spirit will reap from the Spirit everlasting life. 9 So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest. 10 Therefore, as the opportunity arises, let us do what is good to everyone, and especially to the family of those who are trustingly faithful.å-------
As I waited for the sales clerk to find my order form, I felt frustrated that my day was slipping away. I still had many tasks to complete within a limited time. A little voice within me said, “Why don’t you pray for the people around you?” I stopped glancing at my watch and noticed the nearby shoppers. Some seemed stressed; others were anxious or frustrated. I started praying for the people who passed by and smiled at those who looked my way. Finally, the sales clerk returned, apologetic that she couldn’t find my order. “That’s OK,” I said. Instead of feeling frustrated or stressed, I felt peaceful, assured that I had used my time in the way God wanted. In order to do that, I had to relinquish my own agenda. Later in the day, I completed my to-do list without the slightest stress or hurry.
Now, when I wait, whether for a traffic light to change or for family members to get ready, I can relax and pray for the people around me. I feel the joy and excitement of being ready for whatever God has in store for me.
The Author: Donna H. Eliason (Washington, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I will pay attention to God’s leading to pray for others.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for unexpected opportunities to connect with you. May we never be too busy to listen and follow. Amen.
Prayer focus: STORE CLERKS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Divine Potter” for Sunday, 24 July 2016 with Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1 This word came to Yirmeyahu from Adonai: 2 “Get up, and go down to the potter’s house; there I will tell you more.” 3 So I went down to the house of the potter; and there he was, working at the wheels. 4 Whenever a pot he made came out imperfect, the potter took the clay and made another pot with it, in whatever shape suited him.
5 Then the word of Adonai came to me: 6 “House of Isra’el, can’t I deal with you as the potter deals with his clay? — says Adonai. Look! You, house of Isra’el, are the same in my hand as the clay in the potter’s hand. 7 At one time, I may speak about uprooting, breaking down and destroying a nation or kingdom; 8 but if that nation turns from their evil, which prompted me to speak against it, then I relent concerning the disaster I had planned to inflict on it. 9 Similarly, at another time, I may speak about building and planting a nation or kingdom; 10 but if it behaves wickedly from my perspective and doesn’t listen to what I say, then I change my mind and don’t do the good I said I would do that would have helped it.
11 “So now, tell the people of Y’hudah and those living in Yerushalayim that this is what Adonai says:
‘I am designing disaster for you,
working out my plan against you.
Turn, each of you, from his evil ways;
improve your conduct and actions.’
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The Lord said to Jeremiah, “Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”[Jeremiah 18:6 (NRSV)]
In the Creation account found in Genesis, chapter 2, God creates humanity from the clay of the earth and breathes into humankind the breath of life. God is the creator and sustainer of all life, and we have within us the image and breath of God.
In the book of Jeremiah, God calls Jeremiah to the potter’s house where Jeremiah finds a potter working at his wheel. The potter takes a spoiled vessel and reworks it into another vessel. “Then the word of the LORD came to [Jeremiah]: Can I not do with you . . . just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” Here again, with the image of clay, God gives us a powerful message: “Can I not do with you . . . just as this potter has done?”
We are God’s good creation — but we aren’t always good! Yet no matter how often we become cracked or marred, in God’s hands we can become beautiful again as God shapes, molds, and recreates us in the divine image.
The Author: Christopher Yopp (Virginia, USA) — See back cover.
Thought for the Day> I am made in the image of God.
Prayer: Loving God, mold our lives in such a way that we reflect the beautiful creation you desire us to be. Amen.
Prayer focus: ARTISANS---------------------
The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Divine Potter” for Sunday, 24 July 2016 with Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1 This word came to Yirmeyahu from Adonai: 2 “Get up, and go down to the potter’s house; there I will tell you more.” 3 So I went down to the house of the potter; and there he was, working at the wheels. 4 Whenever a pot he made came out imperfect, the potter took the clay and made another pot with it, in whatever shape suited him.
5 Then the word of Adonai came to me: 6 “House of Isra’el, can’t I deal with you as the potter deals with his clay? — says Adonai. Look! You, house of Isra’el, are the same in my hand as the clay in the potter’s hand. 7 At one time, I may speak about uprooting, breaking down and destroying a nation or kingdom; 8 but if that nation turns from their evil, which prompted me to speak against it, then I relent concerning the disaster I had planned to inflict on it. 9 Similarly, at another time, I may speak about building and planting a nation or kingdom; 10 but if it behaves wickedly from my perspective and doesn’t listen to what I say, then I change my mind and don’t do the good I said I would do that would have helped it.
11 “So now, tell the people of Y’hudah and those living in Yerushalayim that this is what Adonai says:
‘I am designing disaster for you,
working out my plan against you.
Turn, each of you, from his evil ways;
improve your conduct and actions.’
-------
The Lord said to Jeremiah, “Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”[Jeremiah 18:6 (NRSV)]
In the Creation account found in Genesis, chapter 2, God creates humanity from the clay of the earth and breathes into humankind the breath of life. God is the creator and sustainer of all life, and we have within us the image and breath of God.
In the book of Jeremiah, God calls Jeremiah to the potter’s house where Jeremiah finds a potter working at his wheel. The potter takes a spoiled vessel and reworks it into another vessel. “Then the word of the LORD came to [Jeremiah]: Can I not do with you . . . just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” Here again, with the image of clay, God gives us a powerful message: “Can I not do with you . . . just as this potter has done?”
We are God’s good creation — but we aren’t always good! Yet no matter how often we become cracked or marred, in God’s hands we can become beautiful again as God shapes, molds, and recreates us in the divine image.
The Author: Christopher Yopp (Virginia, USA) — See back cover.
Thought for the Day> I am made in the image of God.
Prayer: Loving God, mold our lives in such a way that we reflect the beautiful creation you desire us to be. Amen.
Prayer focus: ARTISANS---------------------
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