The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Monday, 16 October 2017 "Catch that Thought" by Claire Bell - Isaiah 43:1-3
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2017
My husband and I often played boules with our children on holidays. The object of the game is to roll larger, heavy balls across the ground toward a smaller target ball. Part of the game’s challenge comes from the way the ball interacts with uneven ground. It is frustrating when my ball lands near the target, but then rolls farther and farther away!
My thoughts are sometimes like the ball. The ground of my life might be relatively flat, with no particular problems I am aware of. Yet sometimes a fearful thought springs up, and before I know it, my imagination has supplied a whole string of fears, leaving me a long way from where I was aiming.
When fear pulls me away from Jesus, I refocus my heart and mind on him through prayer, praise, and Bible reading. I want Jesus to be the center of my life. I turn to the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing, knowing that he has already died for me. Fearfulness seems to be part of who I am, but I am learning to trust in the Lord. Rather than be filled with fear, I can choose to put my faith in Christ every day.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Help us, Lord, to know your presence and to bring all our thoughts back to you as our center. Amen.
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Isaiah 43:1 But now this is what Adonai says,
he who created you, Ya‘akov,
he who formed you, Isra’el:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you;
I am calling you by your name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through water, I will be with you;
when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire, you will not be scorched —
the flame will not burn you.
3 For I am Adonai, your God,
the Holy One of Isra’el, your Savior —
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and S’va for you.
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Jesus is always with me. I will choose to trust him.
Those struggling with fearful thoughts
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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