The Upper Room Devotion for Wednesday, July 3, 2024, was written by Dineo Nduna of Gauteng, South Africa.
Scripture
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9 NRSV
Author's Thoughts
We went on a family trip to the coast last summer. As always, the chance to spend time at the beach was wonderful. One morning my sister and I woke up early enough to watch the sunrise from the beach. The rays of light on the water, the gentle breeze, the sound of the waves lapping the shore, and the feel of the sand made for a perfect moment. We spent time in meditation, taking photos, and conversing with each other while appreciating the sunrise.
At one point I stood on a rock trying to take a picture of the sunrise. But as I was focusing on the sunrise, a strong wave hit the rock where I was standing. It startled me, and in that moment of being unstable and scared, I took a shot of the wave that literally hit my phone camera lens. The end result was a beautiful picture that I printed and hung on the wall in our home.
The photo of that moment reminds me of the need to embrace disruptions in our lives. Even when we are frightened or destabilized by life's events, there is still beauty. The past few years have been hard. We found ourselves experiencing endless disruptions that truly tested our faith, joy, and peace. May we learn in all circumstances to be present and to capture every moment. With God as our guide, disruptions can add to the beauty of life.
Thought of the Day
I will look for God's beauty in the disruptions of my day.
Author's Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to deal with unexpected disruptions in our life with patience and grace. Amen.
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