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Each week Pastor Sarah offers a devotional reflection to connect with the South Shore UMC Family. Use this entry as a way to prepare your heart and mind for worship. See you Sunday!
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Sunday’s Scripture ~ Luke 12:42-48.
Devotional Scripture ~ Psalm 5:3.
This Sunday South Shore UMC begins our 2021 Stewardship Campaign. We turn to John Wesley for this year's stewardship teaching as we reflect upon his sermons The Use of Money and On Dress. I look forward to this time of learning and reflection with the South Shore UMC Family. May God continue speaking to us that we would be further formed and transformed into the stewards God desires us to be.
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Having travelled to Idaho and back in recent days, I have done a lot of waiting. And specifically waiting in airports.
It is kind of the worst.
The rush to the airport, the wrestle to baggage drop, the scrutiny of security, and then the wait at the gate.
Then to board.
Then flying.
Then to deplane - though in all my years of flying, I hope we will retain the new protocols of "refraining from standing in the aisles until the row in front of you has exited their row and moved six-feet away from you" - that friends, was bliss.
I am not always the best at waiting. I like to think myself a patient person, but in reality I think I aspire to be a patient person. My true self wants everything right.when.I.want.it.
For this reason, I marvel at the prayer warriors I have and have had the privilege of knowing in my life. These persons - with.out.fail - take their cares and concerns to the Lord. They embody the Apostle Paul's command, "Pray without ceasing" (I Thess 5:17). And their praying without ceasing is always in the spirit of rejoicing (I Thess 5:16). Whether they have taken a prayer to the Lord one or one hundred times, they do not hesitate; neither do they waiver in faith. Their faith in how God sees, hears, knows, and comes alongside is an encouragement - not only so that they continue in their prayers - but also to
others blessed by their witness of continued faithfulness.
In the times I have become tired of praying for certain concerns - or question if God is even listening - the Holy Spirit moves to bring one of these prayer warriors into my midst. I am grateful that when in my fear or frustration I am unable to find the words I want to pray - or express the feelings that captured my heart - that these beautiful souls pray for and with me until the words are within my grasp again.
In the New International Version Psalm 5:3 reads, "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." Our waiting expectantly is a bold expression of faith. It expresses our trust in God. It expresses our belief that God's word is true. It expresses our resilience - we believe our God sees, hears, knows, and comes alongside - and so we wait.
We watch.
And friends, God will amaze us with God's wonders.
Reflection: Think about your longstanding prayers. How has God changed your heart through these situations?
Prayer: “High King of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.”* Amen.
*“Be Thou My Vision,” The United Methodist Hymnal 451.
Devotional Resource: The Weekly Prayer Project by Scarlet Hiltibidal
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