The Upper Room Devotional 5th October 2023 (My Restart Button)

TODAY’S TOPIC: MY RESTART BUTTON

Keith Honeyman (Western Cape, South Africa)

TODAY’S READING
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Through the Holy Spirit, each day is an opportunity for a restart.

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory. – 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

I am an 81-year-old architectural designer. When I went blind in one eye at age 70, I found manual drafting almost impossible. My son introduced me to computer-aided drafting, which was a new way of working for me but allowed me to continue my work. As I was learning to use the software, I often pushed wrong buttons and encountered problems. The remedy was almost always the same: restart the computer.

I have had serious problems — financial struggles, business or career setbacks, health issues, bereavements, illness, worry, and shame. But in such times the Holy Spirit reminds me: “Have peace, pray, and restart.” And the greatest restart of my life was at age 16 when I knelt before the cross, confessed my sins, and asked Jesus to restart my life in his covenant.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to restart our lives through the simple words that you taught us, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:9-13, NIV). Amen.

PRAYER FOCUS
Architects