The Upper Room Daily Devotional 22nd April 2023
The Upper Room 22ndt April 2023 Daily Devotional, Saturday Message by Jan Towne (Virginia, USA)
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TOPIC: Pick Up and Pray
TODAY’S READING
Romans 12:1-8
KEY VERSE: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. – Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
My husband and I like to go on daily walks along the roadways of our rural town. Several years ago, we decided to pick up the trash that litters the ditches along the streets where we walk. It is rewarding both to get exercise and fresh air and to help beautify God’s earth. But it can be frustrating also. We find that after cleaning up an area, more trash accumulates within a few days. At one point, I became angry at the repeat offenders, but then I changed my way of thinking and started praying. With every piece of trash I pick up, I pray for the person who threw it there. Almost immediately God changed my anger and frustration into forgiveness and empathy.
We can reshape our thoughts and attitudes with prayer. Prayer can turn hate into love, fear into trust, anger into forgiveness, and despair into joy. As we remind ourselves to pray when confronted by negative thoughts such as fear and anger, we can reshape our thoughts to conform to the thoughts and ways of Jesus. God’s gift of prayer has awesome power!
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for giving us the privilege of prayer. As we pray, reshape our minds to conform to your will. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Prayer can change my mind and my life.
PRAYER FOCUS
My neighborhood
The Upper Room 22nd April 2023, 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. Read More
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