The UPPER ROOM Devotional 4th December 2023: Making Time for God
Read and Study Today’s The Upper Room Daily Devotional for December 4, 2023 Message written by John D. Bown (Minnesota, USA). God bless you as you study today! Please share with your friends and loved ones.
TODAY’S READING
Luke 10:38-42
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Today I will make time for God, who always makes time for me.
[Jesus] answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.” – Luke 10:41 (NRSVUE)
I’ve been doing early morning devotions using The Upper Room for over 35 years. I am now retired, but I remember that when I was working there were mornings when my mind was preoccupied with work and family responsibilities. Sometimes I felt I had so much to do that I shortened my devotion time so I could move on to that day’s activities. In hindsight, I can see that I was putting other priorities ahead of spending time with the Lord.
We see several examples of this in the Bible. One story is in Luke 9:57-62, where two men said they would follow Jesus, but only after they had attended to other tasks. Another example is from today’s Bible reading. When Jesus arrived to visit Martha and Mary, Martha was too distracted and busy to spend time with the Lord. When she complained about Mary sitting and listening to Jesus, he gently rebuked her. Martha let little things get in the way of big things. I can relate because I have done the same.
As I now reflect back, I can see that the days when I was “too busy” were exactly the days I should have been spending more time in prayer, not less. Our goal is not to fit Jesus into a busy schedule; it’s to make him the focus of our life.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we know that sometimes we get too caught up in the daily activities of life. Help us always to focus on you. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS
People who feel overwhelmed
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