Luke 21 - December 30, 2022

Today's Scripture Here: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/111/LUK.21.NIV

Welcome to the Daily SOAP from New Hope. This is Jaci Alexander, your guest host for today. I hope you are having a good day. Today we are reading from Luke 21. If you haven’t read it yet, you might want to do so now. I will be focusing on Luke, specifically, Luke 21:34 My version is from the modern English bible. Luke 21:34, the words of Jesus, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts become burdened by excessiveness and drunkenness and anxieties of life, and that Day comes on you unexpectedly.” This scripture leans heavy on my heart today. In preparation for the busy week ahead, and then some well-deserved rest, I write this devotion moments after finding out someone near and dear has passed suddenly. This passage is full of information about the ‘end days’. Jesus was telling us about signs we could see coming together prior to His return, but I find it hard to believe he wasn’t also reassuring us of our own mortality, and fear of death from this world we know. I find myself busy, running myself around to all the “to-dos” and I even get anxious about all the things I am not doing. And in dwelling in this passage for a bit, I wonder if Jesus is also saying not to waste our time running from one thing to the next. We have such a short time here and it can be up in a moment. If you are just completing the next task, or worrying about something potentially happening, you’re squandering your time away. I know this message is coming to you after the holidays and possibly a good chunk or your ‘free time’ has been used up, but I hope you take some time each day to just be at peace with yourself. Just take a moment and not worry or overthink or get one more thing off the to do list done. I hope you release yourself from excessive obligations and prioritize yourself. Spending time in things that build you up, like family time, reading your bible for pleasure, or sending a card letting someone know you are thinking about them. The time is coming quicker than we all know. Let’s not use it on things that tear us down. Heavenly Father, Your timing is good and just. The things that we focus on in this world are deceitful and use up our time. Change our hearts to focus on You and the good things You have put in our lives. Remove any anxiety and stress from our lives that keeps our focus off You and Your Word for our lives. Forgive us when we fall short and make bad decisions. And give us Your peace that passes all understanding, knowing that You are the one who holds the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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