The Upper Room Daily Devotion in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, 29 June 2017 "One Family" - Read Psalm 65:2-8

The Upper Room Daily Devotion in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, 29 June 2017 "One Family" - Read Psalm 65:2-8
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Psalm 65:2 (1) To you, God, in Tziyon, silence is praise;
and vows to you are to be fulfilled.
3 (2) You who listen to prayer,
to you all living creatures come.
4 (3) When deeds of wickedness overwhelm me,
you will atone for our crimes.
5 (4) How blessed are those you choose and bring near,
so that they can remain in your courtyards!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the Holy Place of your temple.
6 (5) It is just that you answer us with awesome deeds,
God of our salvation,
you in whom all put their trust,
to the ends of the earth and on distant seas.
7 (6) By your strength you set up the mountains.
You are clothed with power.
8 (7) You still the roaring of the seas,
their crashing waves, and the peoples’ turmoil.
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You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. [Psalm 65:2 (NIV)]
As a Spanish teacher, I have had the opportunity to meet people from many countries, cultures and religions over the years. God has blessed me in these encounters.
One of the loveliest experiences I have had was in Puerto Rico with a young Christian woman from Indonesia. This young woman was far from her family and felt quite lonely in Puerto Rico. No one in our area spoke her native language. However, she and I both spoke English, so we could communicate while she learned Spanish.
When we prayed, we held hands; she prayed in her language and I in mine. Together we opened our hearts — praying and crying to God — united in our willingness to be attentive to the presence of the Holy Spirit. We remain grateful that God not only listens to our prayers but understands our common needs.
The Author: Aida I. Rojas (Puerto Rico)
Thought for the Day: The Holy Spirit unites us as one family.
Prayer: God of all, thank you for the privilege of praying for and with one another regardless of our differences. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matt. 6:9-13, KJV).
Prayer focus: International students and teachers
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