The Upper Room Devotional 13 April 2022 (Wednesday)
Read and Meditate on The Upper Room Daily Devotional for Wednesday 13th April 2022 written by Lee Ann Zanon. God bless you as you read!
WEDNESDAY READING – THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 13 APRIL 2022
THINKING ON TARGET
Lee Ann Zanon (Oregon, USA)
TODAY’S READING
Isaiah 26:3-8
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Today, I will focus my thoughts on God’s word instead of my worries.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. – Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
I pushed myself to ride rugged single-track bike trails far beyond what I’d ever done. Switchback turns, jagged rocks, tight spaces between trees, quick inclines and descents just kept coming. I barely navigated one obstacle before another was right in front of me. What had I gotten myself into?
Thankfully I had a kind and experienced guide riding ahead of me. He let me know what was coming and gave tips on how to navigate each obstacle. At one point, he told me about target fixation, a term I’d never heard.
He explained that our bodies gravitate toward our point of focus. If I kept my eyes fixed on the rock in the trail, I would likely hit it straight on and be launched off the bike. But if I concentrated farther down the way, aware of the rock yet not staring right at it, I could safely veer around it. After a while, I began to understand. Rather than nervously approaching a narrow passage between tree trunks, I forced myself to look ahead. I cleared it with no problem and cheered out loud!
Scripture speaks of keeping our focus on God and not on our troubles, which is easier said than done. But the Lord promises peace as we fill our minds with truth rather than worry. Life’s struggles are still there, but God gives hope and strength to see us through.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us to remember and cling to your promises. Fill our minds with your truth so that we may experience your peace. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS
Someone struggling with worry