The Upper Room Devotion for Monday, November 20, 2023, was written by Muyiwa Benralph Olaiya of Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
Scripture
1 The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. 4 May he grant you your heart's desire,
and fulfill all your plans. 5 May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand. 7 Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright. 9 Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call.
Psalm 20:1-9 NRSV
Author's Thoughts
When I was a teenager my father died, my university admission was unsuccessful, and I barely had enough food to eat. I was overwhelmed and struggled to pray. So I wrote a letter to God, asking my heavenly Father to please take over. I read it a couple of times, tucked it into an envelope, and forgot about it. It seemed naive and silly to me, and i wasn't sure God would listen.
Years later, I found the letter, and I knew God had been aware of the sorrow in my heart all along. And as I looked back, I could see all the ways God had been present in my life.
Sometimes we feel so beaten down by our circumstances that we struggle to tell God how we feel. It doesn't matter whether we write, mumble, or cry in God's presence - God hears! All we need to do is give our worry and burdens to God; leaving them in God's hands. When we worry continuously after handing our troubles over to God, we take back our burdens. It is important to trust God to handle our situation in God's time and way.
Thought For The Day
In what ways can I pour out my heart to God?
Author's Prayer
Heavenly Father, hear the heart cry of those of us who are weary and in need of help and comfort. Amen
Comments