THE UPPER ROOM DAILY DEVOTIONAL 3 JULY 2024, WEDNESDAY MESSAGE
TOPIC: Embracing Disruptions
TODAY’S READING
Philippians 4:4-9
Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. – Philippians 4:6 (CEB)
TODAY’S MESSAGE
We went on a family trip to the coast last summer. As always, the chance to spend time at the beach was wonderful. O
One morning my sister and I woke up early enough to watch the sunrise from the beach. The rays of light on the water, the gentle breeze, the sound of the waves lapping the shore, and the feel of the sand made for a perfect moment. We spent time in meditation, taking photos, and conversing with each other while appreciating the sunrise.
At one point I stood on a rock trying to take a picture of the sunrise. But as I was focusing on the sunrise, a strong wave hit the rock where I was standing. It startled me, and in that moment of being unstable and scared, I took a shot of the wave that literally hit my phone camera lens. The end result was a beautiful picture that I printed and hung on the wall in our home.
The photo of that moment reminds me of the need to embrace disruptions in our lives. Even when we are frightened or destabilized by life’s events, there is still beauty. The past few years have been hard. We found ourselves experiencing endless disruptions that truly tested our faith, joy, and peace. May we learn in all circumstances to be present and to capture every moment. With God as our guide, disruptions can add to the beauty of our life.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, help us to deal with unexpected disruptions in our life with patience and grace. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
I will look for God’s beauty in the disruptions of my day.
PRAYER FOCUS
To be present in the moment
The Upper Room Daily Devotional 3 July 2024 Message. The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together. Read More