Our Father Knows Best — Being Schooled
Sunday, March 30
Psalm 119:24-32
Melissa Otten | Covenant Church of Easton
Connecticut
“Your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors” (v. 24, NRSVUE).
As a young girl, I always loved school and learning. I was a good student and a teacher-pleaser. That mindset eventually led me to pursue a short career in teaching until I was blessed to be able to raise four children. Of course, I was still teaching my children even though I remained home for fourteen years. It was a joy I do not regret.
Our heavenly Father must smile and be joyful—or at least that’s how I imagine it—when we choose to be delighted in his teachings. What parent wouldn’t?! God is just waiting for us to realize our need to be taught and strengthened by the Word and truth. Our Father knows best and delights in us, his creation, especially when we choose to be schooled by him!
Dear Lord, never let me tire of learning your ways and seeking your truths. Thank you for revealing yourself to me and for loving me despite myself. You are so good, so gracious, and so merciful. I love you! Amen.
Pleasure In Obeying God’s Commands
Monday, March 31
Psalm 119:41-48
Joyce E. Schlef | Evangelical Covenant Church
Springfield, Massachusetts
Have I sought out God’s precepts and teachings? Do I delight in God’s commands? The first command that comes to mind is, “Love your neighbor.” There are seven houses on our dead-end street, where I have lived for forty-three years. Most of my neighbors have lived there at least that long or even longer. But I did not even know all their names. When my pastor challenged us to reach out to our community, I decided to invite my neighbors over for “pie on the patio,” which has resulted in an annual cookout.
Because I am retired, I could spend all my time working in my yard, cleaning my house, organizing photos in albums, or reading a book. But a missionary once told me that our time is not ours alone but is given to us by God. I am trying to be better at reaching out to others. It must be an intentional effort, and I have grown closer to people in this process.
Lord, help me to daily meditate on your decrees and instructions and to delight in your commands. Amen.
Praise God In Trials
Tuesday, April 1
Psalm 119:63-69
Margaret Bryden | Bethany Covenant Church
Berlin, Connecticut
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word” (v. 67, NIV).
No one wishes for hard times or trials. However, when are you closest to God? After you achieve your dream job? When your son or daughter has been accepted into an Ivy League school? Or made the varsity team as a freshman? In truth, it can be hard not to become prideful when these events occur!
When I am closest to God, in my moments of disappointment, health concerns for a loved one, or personal failure, that is when I pray without ceasing! Those are the times I walk more closely to my heavenly Father. That is when I can echo James’s call to “count it all joy” (James 1:2, ESV). I am still far from rejoicing in trials, but God does remind me in the midst of challenges that he loves me and he will use everything for good!
Dear heavenly Father, help us to trust you in all times—in times of rejoicing and times of sorrow. It is in your Son our Savior’s name we pray. Amen.
Trust And Obey
Wednesday, April 2
Luke 9:1-6
Cheryl Opper | Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton, Massachusetts
I find it interesting that when Jesus told the twelve disciples to go out and preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick, he told them to take nothing for the journey. Have you ever gone on a trip and taken nothing with you but the clothes on your back? When reading this passage I was reminded of the song “Trust and Obey.” When I Googled the lyrics, the verse that stood out to me was: “Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet or we’ll walk by his side in the way. What he says we will do, where he sends we will go; never fear, only trust and obey.”
Jesus’s twelve disciples trusted and obeyed him when he told them to go and take nothing for the journey—and they were richly blessed! I am confident God has many blessings in store for all of us if we can trust and obey like the twelve disciples.
Jesus, help us to listen when you call us to take the journey to trust and obey. Amen.
The Miracle Of The Loaves And Fish And Rent Money
Thursday, April 3
Luke 9:10-17
Sara O. Peterson | Bethany Covenant Church
Berlin, Connecticut
We may have heard the story in this passage from an early age in Sunday school. It is easy to follow and to understand. It is also profound. Jesus’s love for us is so great and he will look after us.
Reading this passage recently, I was reminded of my friend who lost her husband when their baby was only one year old. She had a job, but she needed an affordable place to live. She found the perfect apartment near her parents, but it was $200 more than she could afford. Amazingly, Social Security contacted her and said they had to correct her benefit from her husband’s death. She would receive an increase of $200 per month, the exact amount she needed! It was an amount that seemed insurmountable at the time. Similarly, trying to feed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish seems impossible. Yet the love of Jesus is bigger than numbers. I can see his arms reaching out and around my friend, providing for her, just as he provided for the crowds.
Lord, we are forever thankful for your love and provision. Amen.
He Is Always With Us
Friday, April 4
Luke 15:11B-32
Emma Healey | Trinity Covenant Church
Manchester, Connecticut
I constantly need to be reminded that I am God’s child. I can easily live my days like the older son in Jesus’s parable, as if I were working for a stern, difficult, faraway boss. I have a never-ending list in my head of things I can accomplish well but with little joy. I can even do my devotionals and nighttime prayers as if they were to be weighed against my self-worth.
The older son speaks for me when he covets his brother’s homecoming. I know I have done the same when I believed God was short-changing me compared to others. Daily I must rely on the truth that God created the stars in heavens, parted the seas for the Israelites, and gave Sarah a baby at ninety! I can speak directly to my God, knowing that everything God has is mine and that God is with me always. Our Father rejoices and celebrates over those who were lost and now are found, as I once was.
God, thank you for showing me how much you love and care for me every day and for reminding me that you are with me always. Amen.
God Makes His Appeal Through Us
Saturday, April 5
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Cathy Zelinski | Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton, Massachusetts
In this passage, Paul is talking about seeing the world through the lens of being a new creation in Christ. By God’s grace we are called to share the good news of God’s reconciliation. God sent his Son to bear the burden of our sins so that we can go out and share the message of being a new creation with all who will listen.
I don’t always feel “qualified” to deliver this message. Today Paul reminds us that our separation from God has been removed and we are made new. Therefore, we become ambassadors to reconcile others to Christ. God uses us to spread the gospel message because people come from different backgrounds and experiences. God will put people in my path who need to hear about God’s love and forgiveness in a way that only I can tell it. Because all creation is made new, seeing the world from a different perspective also helps me to see the world in a new light.
Lord, use me to proclaim your gospel of good news and reconciliation. Amen.
