TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Sandra Chua

When my father asked me why my husband and I decided to serve in church, I answered, “He has been blessing us so much, we would like to give thanks to Him.” Then, I recounted a story I heard from our pastor of a young man walking down the road. As he walked, he saw coins along the way, which he promptly picked up one by one. Engrossed with the treasures he was finding, he focused his eyes on the ground. Then suddenly, a stone hit him on the head, and he looked up and discovered someone up in the buildings calling his attention. I told my father that in the same way, I would like to give thanks while God is blessing me and not only look up after He hits me with a stone.  

Noah had been shut in the ark for around a year. I’m sure it was nothing like a cruise but more like a bumpy, raging rapids ride. An hour of continuous rain is enough to flood Metro Manila’s streets. Can you imagine rain for forty days and forty nights!? After the rain stopped, patience was required for the flood waters to come down. If only you can unplug it like a sink drain. But in God’s time, He dried up the land and commanded Noah and his family to come out. It was time to worship and give thanks to the Lord.

REFLECTION

How do we give thanks to the Lord? What are the things we can thank Him for today? How often do we give thanks to God? Are there times you find it hard to find things to thank Him for?

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, You are God almighty! You control the wind and the rain. All creation bows down to You. Even the waves of the sea obey You. They cannot go beyond the limits You have set for them. Thank You, Lord, for always going with us and before us, for accompanying us through the midst of a storm and leading us out as well. We praise You, in Jesus’s name, amen.