Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 1, 2023
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
1 There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens: 2 a time for giving birth and a time for dying, a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted, 3 a time for killing and a time for healing, a time for tearing down and a time for building up, 4 a time for crying and a time for laughing, a time for mourning and a time for dancing, 5 a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones, a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces, 6 a time for searching and a time for losing, a time for keeping and a time for throwing away, 7 a time for tearing and a time for repairing, a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking, 8 a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from all their hard work? 10 I have observed the task that God has given human beings. 11 God has made everything fitting in its time, but has also placed eternity in their hearts, without enabling them to discover what God has done from beginning to end.
Good Morning, Happy New Year!
2023 is here! Many will make new year’s resolutions. Often they seem to be a retread of a previous year’s goals. We start so many things with the best intentions, but somewhere along the way we lose our focus and our drive. New Year’s resolutions are a call to change, and we seem to inherently fight change even when it’s necessary. Despite the fact that the change will improve some part of our lives, we resist it.
We are just finishing the Advent and Christmas season and we are given another opportunity to fix or change our faith journey. Now is when we are full of resolve to be a better child of God. Sadly, there are so many distractions that we quickly start finding excuses as to why we didn’t spend time with God. First, it’s just a day, but before we know it we realize that we haven’t spoken to God in a while.
Just as with any change, sometimes it helps to create a schedule, place reminders, and even set an alarm. Our spiritual health deserves at least the same strategies of success as taking meds or going to meetings. Take time today to set a plan to allow time for God in your life.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Help us accept the changes that you have planned for us! Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I can choose to embrace change as a gift from God.
Embrace new beginnings! Pastor Liz