The Upper Room Devotion for Monday, October 2, 2023, was written by Linawati Santoso of East Java, Indonesia.
Scripture
6 Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard the sound of my pleadings. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him. 8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9 O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd, and carry them forever.
Psalm 28:6-9 NRSV
Author's Thoughts
One Evening I saw my sister writing notes in her phone. Curious, I took a peek at what she was writing. It was a list of good things that happened to her that day. My sister was counting God's blessings one by one. When I asked her why, she answered, "So I can always be thankful to God."
Starting in January 2021, I had many troubles - one blow after another. I was stressed, and as a result it was hard for me to be thankful to God. Then I remembered my sister's example to count God's blessings. So, every night I tried to give thanks to God for at least one blessing. At first it was difficult. I would wonder, What blessing did I receive today? But, day by day, I came to realize that God's blessings were abundant. No longer was I stressed. I gave thanks to God and felt content.
In today's scripture reading, David celebrates God's presence in his life. Even though he faced many troubles, David knew God's goodness was with him every day. Life has many troubles, but it also has many blessings. We can give thanks to God always.
Pastor Anthony's Thoughts
Friends,
Linawati's reflection invites us to pause and remember God's many blessings. Taking time to count our blessings offers us the opportunity to recount and celebrate God's acts of grace and hope. I invite you to re-read Linawati's reflection and begin to count your blessings.
Author's Prayer
Open our eyes, God, to the abundant blessings you give us every day of our life. May we always give thanks to you. Amen.
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