During
This fresh set of Daily Devotions is being provided for our LCA/NZ family, friends and visitors to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we face unsettling times. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the LCA/NZ’s Church@Home resources to encourage us and build trust in our Heavenly Father during this season of uncertainty and physical isolation.
by Barb Niczynski
Click here for your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe’ (Ephesians 1:18–19).
Most of us are confined to our homes in some shape or form still. We appreciate those who go to their workplace each day at risk – we thank you. Some are working from home, are home schooling, or are retired. We are all missing family contact and are blessed that these restrictions are gradually easing. But we are still deep in the ‘during’ phase of this pandemic.
So, what’s happening with your faith in this ‘during’ time? Is it on hold like so much else? Have you coasted and not given it much effort? Is your faith richer as you depend more on prayer, reading, meditation, and one-on-one contact with God? How do you maintain faith without a weekly church service with the add-ons of music; friends; touch; prayer for others or yourself; the noise; a cuppa during fellowship; and the people you don’t really know well but find you are strangely missing their faces? Are online services working for you? In a nutshell, are you enlarging your faith in this space of ‘during’?
How are you going without holy communion? Is it a good thing that you can’t commune presently? Are you deliberately finding ways to feast with Jesus, read his word, sing songs of praise, enjoy deep quiet time, rest in his presence, and converse with him in your aloneness or loneliness? May this be a time of renewal of your faith with God, and your community.
Jesus, as I do the dishes, school work, my job, housework, deal with online connecting, or hide in the toilet for five minutes of peace from the children or my partner, bless me and take my mind to the rooftop, to contemplate the sunset with you Jesus, to imagine the breeze, smell and gentle waves at the beach with you, Holy Spirit, by my side. Show me the beauty and bounty of you, Father, in all ordinary moments of my days. Bring your words, songs that lift my spirits, forgotten hymns, favourite psalms, and mostly, your presence to my being. Amen.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
