The Upper Room Devotional for 15th February 2023
Welcome!!! The word of God is food to the spirit man. As you read The Upper Room Devotional Today, may the word of the Lord powerfully impact on you.
Today’s Topic: Falling Leaves
Yessenia Rosalía Acosta de Beard (Dominican Republic)
TODAY’S READING
Matthew 6:25-34
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Do not fear, [the Lord] will help you” (Isa. 41:13, NRSV).
The Upper Room Devotional for 15th February 2023
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
For years I lived in a second-floor apartment. When I moved into a house, I began the daily task of sweeping leaves in front of the house and the back patio. It seemed a never-ending task! There were always leaves on the ground the following day. At first I tried shaking the tree limbs to make more leaves drop in hopes that there would be few or no leaves to sweep the next day. But the next day, there were always leaves on the ground.
Much like this task of sweeping up the leaves, when I face difficult tasks or physical challenges, I want to deal with them all at once and free myself of the aggravation and stress. But, like the leaves, no matter how much I want to resolve situations in one fell swoop, each day brings its own set of worries. This reality has led me to depend more on the Lord.
Each day leaves will fall, and worries will come. Now, instead of complaining about sweeping up leaves or being consumed with worries, I seek joy in the spiritual practice of discernment, trusting in divine providence to be my guiding light in all circumstances.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Creator God, help us to learn to depend on you each day, knowing that you will guard our going out and coming in. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS
Someone frustrated by ongoing problems