The Upper Room 23rd January 2024 Devotional Message
The Upper Room 23rd January 2024 Devotional, Tuesday Message by Daniel Valencia Guevara (State of Mexico, Mexico)
TOPIC: Finding Joy
TODAY’S READING
Psalm 30:1-12
You changed my mourning into dancing. You took off my funeral clothes and dressed me up in joy so that my whole being might sing praises to you and never stop. – Psalm 30:11-12 (CEB)
A few years ago, I felt uncomfortable in the workplace due to the attitudes and actions of my boss and some colleagues. The situation got so bad I was at the point of quitting my job.
I started to read the Bible and The Upper Room daily devotional meditations and gave my life to Christ. I read other people’s stories of situations like mine in the daily meditations. I learned I was not the only person going through difficult times. But God speaks to each of us in different ways. I learned to pray, first giving thanks to God for all things and then turning my concerns over to God.
Today, my boss is no longer with the company, the working relationship with my colleagues has changed, and I received recognition for my years of service. What I know for sure is that God never abandons us and can change our mourning into dancing.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Blessed be your name, O Lord. Thank you for helping us find joy and peace in the many blessings we receive every day. We pray as you taught us, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (Lk. 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Turning my life over to Christ has turned my struggles to triumphs.
PRAYER FOCUS
Someone with whom I have a difficult relationship
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.