DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018
Dear Lord, revive us with your Spirit so that we will reflect your love to everyone around us. Amen.
As water reflects the face, so one’s life
reflects the heart. (Proverbs 27:19 (NIV))
My husband and I hiked down to the lake, which lay still in the early morning sunshine. Its surface perfectly reflected the world above — hills of dark green fir and pine and a deep blue sky with puffy white clouds floating by. I couldn’t even distinguish the actual color of the water, so bright were the reflections.
If only I could reflect God in such a way! The Bible helps by showing me how to live by Jesus’ example. He loved the poor, reached out to help the sick, and forgave those who hurt him. But still I ask myself, Why is it so hard for me to live the same way? Perhaps my soul becomes agitated by stress, by guilt over wrongs I have done, or by memories of times I’ve been hurt.
When we find ourselves stumbling over such obstacles, we can allow God to calm these storms by singing songs of praise, praying for forgiveness, and focusing on our blessings. As we do so, the inner disturbances subside. We then become more able to reflect the beauty and light of God’s love.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
My husband and I hiked down to the lake, which lay still in the early morning sunshine. Its surface perfectly reflected the world above — hills of dark green fir and pine and a deep blue sky with puffy white clouds floating by. I couldn’t even distinguish the actual color of the water, so bright were the reflections.
If only I could reflect God in such a way! The Bible helps by showing me how to live by Jesus’ example. He loved the poor, reached out to help the sick, and forgave those who hurt him. But still I ask myself, Why is it so hard for me to live the same way? Perhaps my soul becomes agitated by stress, by guilt over wrongs I have done, or by memories of times I’ve been hurt.
When we find ourselves stumbling over such obstacles, we can allow God to calm these storms by singing songs of praise, praying for forgiveness, and focusing on our blessings. As we do so, the inner disturbances subside. We then become more able to reflect the beauty and light of God’s love.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
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Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him. Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.
14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body.
And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
How can I reflect God’s love today?
PRAYER FOCUS:
Hikers
READ MORE: Lightning Lakes
14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body.
And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
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How can I reflect God’s love today?
Hikers
READ MORE: Lightning Lakes
The lake that inspired today’s devotional was one of the Lightning Lakes in British Columbia, Canada, where my husband, Gary, and I hiked a couple of year ago. Gary and I love British Columbia. We spent our honeymoon in the lovely, and very British, city of Victoria. Later that same year we ventured farther into Canada, taking in the rugged mountains and turquoise lakes of Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta. When our boys were young, we took them camping up in B.C. In fact, our younger son celebrated three birthdays in that province. We have many special memories of those days: playing peek-a-boo with a raccoon family at Cultus Lake, enjoying the friendly rabbits at a campground near Squamish. And then there was the trip where the universal joint in our car went out, making a loud clunk, clunk as we rolled down the freeway near Chilliwack. “Like that noise,” our toddler chanted from the back seat, as we nursed the car to the next exit. It was almost 5:00 p.m., and we were out in the country. Would we find a repair shop in time? But there it was, just off the highway — a small shop with friendly mechanics who had replaced two or three universal joints that very day. They knew just what to do, and we were on our way in no time. God was watching over us, and prayers were answered that day.
And that is what means the most to me. Whether we are traipsing along pristine forest trails or nursing an ailing car to the next town, God is always with us. We can count on him for joy and beauty, as well as comfort and guidance. The exciting part of writing devotionals is that it keeps me watching for the creative ways that God speaks to us and answers our prayers. I enjoy sharing my God stories with others almost as much as I like hearing the stories others have to tell. What God stories do you have to share?
Read more of Susan's writing on her blog: http://www.sparrowthoughts.wordpress.com
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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