Day 308 | Thursday, 21 January 2021

Day 308 - Audio Version

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Day 308 | Thursday, 21 January 2021 
(84 new covid cases yesterday)

Psalm 145:13-21  CEB
13 Your kingdom is a kingship that lasts forever;
    your rule endures for all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all that he says,
    faithful in all that he does.
14 The Lord supports all who fall down,
    straightens up all who are bent low.
15 All eyes look to you, hoping,
    and you give them their food right on time,
16     opening your hand
    and satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways,
    faithful in all his deeds.
18 The Lord is close to everyone who calls out to him,
    to all who call out to him sincerely.
19 God shows favor to those who honor him,
    listening to their cries for help and saving them.
20 The Lord protects all who love him,
    but he destroys every wicked person.
21 My mouth will proclaim the Lord’s praise,
    and every living thing will bless God’s holy name
        forever and always.

The Message
13 Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal; you never get voted out of office. God always does what he says and is gracious in everything he does. 14 God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit. 15 All eyes are on you, expectant; you give them their meals on time. 16 Generous to a fault, you lavish your favor on all creatures. 17 Everything God does is right - the trademark on all his works is love. 18 God's there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it. 19 He does what's best for those who fear him - hears them call out and saves them. 20 God sticks by all who love him, but it's all over for those who don't. 21 My mouth is filled with God's praise. Let everything living bless him, bless his holy name from now to eternity!

“When I was younger, prayer seemed like a chore to check off my To Do List. I would schedule time to pray and say the words I thought I should. Often, I would simply ask for things I wanted, and if I didn't get them, I would complain to God.

As I matured in my faith and grew closer to God, I began to ask for less and share with God more, and I often left my prayer time relieved of my burdens and fears. I found that prayer could be surprisingly refreshing especially if I didn't talk at God but spoke to God.

Now that I'm older, I've realized that far from being a chore, prayer can be like spending time with a beloved friend. The need to say something is often less important than simply being together. I try to listen more than I talk, and I Revel in the joy of being with God.

God will listen to our prayers anytime, regardless of what we've done in the past or where we are in our spiritual journey. All we have to do is show up, tune out distractions, and open our hearts. I'm not always successful in listening to God, but I've learned that it's always worth the effort.”  Abigail Gary (Upper room page 26 January-February)

“Dear God, thank you for always being with us. Help us remember that your love for us is constant and steadfast. Amen.”
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“Prayer focus: people who feel alone.”
“Thought for the day: I can experience God's love through prayer.”