The Upper Room Devotional 29th October 2023 Message
The The Upper Room Devotional 29th October 2023 , Sunday Message by Patricia Kinner Kelly (Florida, USA)
TOPIC:Â Water, Weed, Wait
TODAY’S READING
Ephesians 3:14-21
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. – James 5:7 (NIV)
My yard was nothing but grass when I started to fill it with native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. These new plants are small and rather spindly now; some have seed heads but no flowers. But from past experience, I know what is to come. The trees will fill out, the shrubs will send off new shoots, and the wildflowers will reseed and bloom. After I put the plants in the earth to help establish their roots, I keep them watered, remove the weeds, and wait. This process takes time, but I approach it with patience and excitement.
In contrast, when I was anxiously praying for an important situation to be resolved and I heard God tell me to wait, my first reaction was frustration. I had to remind myself of past experiences when God answered my prayers in ways that exceeded my expectations. And I had to do my part to stay rooted in my faith: absorbing God’s promises, weeding out my doubts, and waiting with assured and joyful anticipation.
God’s words of love and salvation are plentiful in scripture. In the midst of past crises, I have learned by heart some scripture passages that bring me peace and comfort and keep me grounded so that waiting can be a process not of frustration or disappointment but of hope.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, help us remember that you are always with us. We wait for you with hope and joyful anticipation. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God is with me in my waiting.
PRAYER FOCUS
Gardeners
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