The Upper Room devotional reflection for Friday, July 15, 2022 comes to us from Glynis M. Belec of Ontario, Canada.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10 NIV
“Clean Away the Dust”
It is amazing and annoying how dust can creep into places you don’t expect. Recently my husband and I have been doing some home renovations. I was determined that I would protect all our furniture and made sure I had enough plastic to cover everything. I didn’t think about the insides of the kitchen cupboards, though. I figured the contents of the cupboards were safe since they were all behind doors. But renovation dust managed to creep into the crevices. It wasn’t until cleanup time that I noticed the thin layer of dust that had covered everything! As I cleaned out my cupboards, I thought about how it wouldn’t hurt to give myself a dusting off too. Sin can creep in just like dust. Prayer and confession are good ways to clean away the dust in my life. It was good to stop and think about how God blesses me every day with mercy grace.
Friends –
I do keep finding dust all over at home, and I am frankly not very good at getting rid of it. And I appreciate this “prayer focus” on people who clean homes for a living. But like Glynis M. Belec, I am reminded that I might need to be dusted off myself. As always, my soul can always use “cleaning up” through prayer, study, and accountability. When I focus on God’s purposes for me and remember that God is always with me and loving me, I am far more able to hear the Holy Spirit directing my steps down the path toward God’s Way and Will.
--Pastor bea
Prayer:
Gracious God, remind us always of how you created and love us. Help us tidy up areas of our lives that don’t bring you glory so we can show our gratitude to you. Amen.
--Glynis M. Belec
Prayer Focus: People who clean Homes for a Living.
Thought for the Day: Each day God gives me abundant mercy and grace.