The Upper Room Devotional 19 June 2022 Sunday | Showing Appreciation

THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 19 JUNE 2022 SUNDAY

Today’s Topic: Showing Appreciation
Chris Grove (Oklahoma, USA)

TODAY’S READING
1 John 3:16-18

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
I show my appreciation to God when I take time to be in God’s presence.

PRAYER FOCUS
Fathers and their children

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:18 (NIV)

My entire adult life has been dedicated to my wife, our four children, and now our grandchildren. I took my family camping, coached Little League, and drove a station wagon. I showed my love for my children in the best way I knew how — by spending time with them. My kids now live all over the country and have careers and their own families, and I miss them greatly.

One day I ended up in the ER, and I needed triple bypass open-heart surgery two days later. I went under anesthesia knowing that my wife and friends were praying in the waiting room. Neither my wife nor I knew that all four of our children had dropped everything to travel hundreds of miles to be there. When I woke up in the recovery room, I was surrounded by more love than I ever hoped to receive. My children demonstrated their love for me just by being present. I felt overwhelmingly appreciated, and that bleak October day turned into the best day of my life!

When I consider how loved I felt that day, I think of how God must feel when we set aside time for prayer and praise. Showing sincere gratitude is one way we can show our love for God.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Ever-present Father, thank you for always being here with us. Call us daily to spend time with you. Amen.