Today’s Reflection
MANY TIMES in your past, you thought you could do life on your own. You often relied on your own strength instead of on God’s. Know that God wants to help you get through the hardships of today and every day. Trust the only One who gives you renewed strength for the journey.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
—Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
– Missy Buchanan
Spirit Boosters
From the September 3 reading in Spirit Boosters for the Journey of Aging: 366 Devotions by Missy Buchanan. Copyright © 2016 by Missy Buchanan. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
Where do you rely on your own strength? Pray God’s presence in that area of your life. Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
Psalm 84:8, NRSV
This Week: pray for those who are learning a new skill. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.
Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.
This week we remember: Rose of Lima (August 23).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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20 Comments
Amen and amen. I kinda had a timely breakthrough this summer with the verse that follows in Proverbs 3. “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” When my eyes are on Him – I don’t have to worry about being the path/decision maker. He will lead me and I will follow – so necessary. I think it flowed out of the words of the song “Red Sea Road” – this song carried me for a few weeks this summer.
My take on the question – is I try to rely on my own reasoning, my logic – which is generally a strength for me. Yet, how I have come to recognize it as a crippling weakness for me also. Ah, the wisdom He imparts, as needed. I need to trust in that more. I think I need to listen to that song again today.
Grateful to attend my god daughter’s tennis match last night. So grateful she is finding joy in the sport which I love. It is such a good change for her from the intensity of basketball. Grateful the rain held off long enough for her to complete the match. Was able to go to her house and see the beautiful little kitten they initially got for my mom. She is beautiful and a purring machine.
Prayers for Andrea, and especially her daughter. Prayers for Mary – her workload and strength and she tends to her parents, and her mum’s upcoming appointment.
Thank you, Jill. I pray for you to be strong and brave with what lies ahead with your mother. My mother also suffered from depression for most of her life. I found with her that nothing I or anyone said or did for her to try to help did any good, she just became more stubborn and stuck. I learned the best I could do was accept her and just be there with her. Often, I invited Jesus to sit with us, placing Him either in an empty chair close to my mother or sitting on the side of her bed. I pray for your guidance in the very tough situation with your mother’s depression and intransigence. Most of all, I pray for you to keep your immense poise and lean steadily on your faith. Let God be in charge. Blessings, dear Jill, and may you and your students be blessed this new school year.
Thank you God for the wonderful gift. “The Source Of Strength” God Bless all of you here! This is a special place.
Thank you God for renewing our strength in our life journey.
Blessings to all!
A wonderful surprise yesterday, more than a week after it was expected, Erich learned that he has the job he wanted working at a store. He’s right downtown, a short distance from home. Work starts Sunday. There was a delay in telling him and that was tough. It will be very helpful and make the time we have here much more productive and easier. Thank You, Lord.
Remembering that every skill, ability, talent, and energy I have all comes from God is important. Without God enabling me, none of these would be possible. God gives the ability to grow, improve, learn, develop. Put God first and all these things will be given unto you. I’m very much a believer in Proverbs 3.
Prayers for Francesca, Julie, Jill, Andrea, Louise, and Mary. God has empowered you, and all believers, in all you do whether with family, school, parents, neighbors, friends and the UR family. Thank you! God’s wisdom guides you and you are a blessing to others. Thank You, Lord.
Yay, Erich!
That is wonderful news.and I am so happy for Erich! Blessings.
This is something I battle with daily. Thinking that I can tackle things in my own. “Trust in the One who can give you renewed strength.” I’ll write this reminder in prayer journal.
Robert, I’m so happy to hear of Erich’s new job! I’m praying that it will be a good fit for him. Keep us posted. God is good.
Praying for God’s strength for Jill, Julie, Mary, Connie, Marcy and others who will visit here in the days to come. I’m traveling for the next few days so I may not be online. Blessings to all.
Betsy, may you have a safe and good trip!
Enjoy!
Sage travels, Betsy, and have a great trip. Blessings.
I have never had a trusting relationship, other than with my grandparents. I was always aware of the uncertainty in my life and the fact that I could not depend on the adults in my life to care for me, provide for me or keep me safe. Therefore I find it very difficult to enter int a trusting relationship with God. I try and I pray about this.
Prayers for Jill as she begins classes. Prayers for her famiy and god daughter.
Prayers for Robert and Erich. Prayers of thanks for the unexpected job offer. Prayers for Anneliese that her cataract surgery will go/went well.
Prayers for Mary and her parents. I pray her mother’s appointment went well and that the transportation arranged for came on time.
Prayers for Louise and her family.
Prayers for safe travel for Betsy.
Prayers for Andrea and her daugher. I pray her daughter relents and seeks treatment and I pray Andrea’s grandson is enclosed within God’s protective arms.
Prayers for Lou and her children, especially her daughter who is still depressed and anxious.
Prayers for Marcy, may she be safe.
Prayers and blessings for and thank you for the prayers, kind words, and suggestions all of the UR family. You are kind and trustworthy.
Thank you, Julie, for your prayers. My prayers for you. I believe God understands your difficulty trusting, has great and tender compassion for you, and will sustain you through all of life’s difficulties. Bless you.
Thank you dear Julie!
May you have a wonderful weekend!
May God bless your ministry of intercession!
I struggle with this also not because I don’t believe and trust in the Lord but I revert back to thinking it is all up to me to get things done – and I have to remember that the reality is that without him I have nothing – not my will but His will be done. I struggle with feeling all alone and need to be reminded that Jesus is always by my side. The above is such a good reminder-
Thankful for the prayers offered here- for the sharing and wisdom offered here each day. Glad to hear from Louise- prayers for Jill and Mary and my own daughter and all teachers as they start back to their important work. Thankful for a new beginning for Erich. Safe travels for Betsy.
Prayers for Julie as she struggles with life’s uncertainties. Prayers for Marcy and her health- we miss her when she does not chime in. Prayers for Robert and his holy walks and always positive encouraging spirit. Prayers for Connie for God’s peace and her strength that comes from knowing Him.
Bless all of the students returning to school- my youngest daughter has her first last day of high school on Monday – God grant her strength and peace. She lost a friend who took his life last week- it has been a sad time- prayers for his friends and family who are left behind struggling to understand the tragedy of this young life ended.
The peace of Christ be with all who come here today.
Prayers also for Andrea and her daughter and young grandson – and continued prayers for all that I did not mention by name –
Thank you dear Lou!
May God help you with your struggles and may He be your constant companion!
Prayers for your daughter and the family who lost a loved one. So sad, and seems to be happening much too often. What a heartache.
What a tragedy. Prayers for your daughter’s friend’s family and for your daughter. Lou, may God fill the loneliness you feel and give you good companionship. May your daughter who is a teacher be wrapped in God’s strong arms as she starts the school year. Thank you for your prayers. Bless you.
In my twenties, I “knew it all”! In my thirties, I sure learned otherwise! Now I absolutely, positively know that I have NO control whatsoever! However, God has always been with me and that is one thing I DID know.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
I will share my kitty story now….I have a Meow Mix Virtual Cat on my computer who looks like my last cat! I feed it daily-you can brush it, it plays—it sleeps….How crazy is that???? “When I am old I will wear purple” AND feed my virtual cat!
Connie, (and all) no, that is ADORABLE! When my children were in school they had “Nano pets” that I warned them if they TOOK them to school, they had to remain OFF and IN their backpacks. Of course the YOUNGEST of my girls only heeded HALF of my instructions and right in the middle of an important test, everyone in the class heard a tiny but emphatic voice come from her backpack shouting “I’m HUNGRY!”
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