Daily Bread November 18

You Were Born for Such a Time as This!
Glenna Henry of Columbia, MO, USA


Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. -James 3:13, 17-18

If you have ever wondered “Why was I born? Why now? What is my purpose here?” please know you were born for a unique purpose that only you and God can determine. You are precious in God’s sight. As you struggle to understand who, why, or what you are, God knows your uniqueness and blesses your search for understanding.

COVID-19 has swept across the world, a tiny virus that can bring a nation like ours almost to its knees! I am reminded of a Disney animated movie where an evil dragon and a white-haired wizard are engaged in an epic battle. Each has magical powers to change into something different. Suddenly, it appears the dragon has won because the wizard just disappears. The dragon jubilantly roars victory, but the wizard has simply changed into a tiny germ and infected the dragon who becomes sick. Like most Disney movies, the good guy wins. Today, we are the ones infected by the virus; we are waiting for the “good guy” vaccine to rescue us.

In my search for reassurance during these trying times, I’ve read parts of the Old Testament I haven’t paid much attention to before.

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. -Habakkuk 1:2-3

And Psalm 8:1, 4-5: O Lord…how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens….what are human beings that you are mindful of them, …that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.

My life experiences have not forced me to dig very deep into my soul to find the understanding that’s needed now. I can see anguish, feel pain, and hear cries. As I try to incorporate that into my conscience, my response is limited by who and what I am. Yet, I can call on a listening God of love to guide me.

Prayer Phrase

God, help me seek peace for me, peace for us, peace for everyone, and peace for our planet. Amen.

Spiritual Practice

The International Community

Find (or imagine) a globe or map of the world. Look at all the nations and find a country other than your own. Notice the geographic distance between your homeland and this one. Picture a person living there. Pray for this person. Sense God’s love connecting you just as the oceans connect the continents. Thank God for the spiritual connection you have with all of God’s people around the globe. Ask a blessing on the church as a community sharing Christ’s peace, drawing all into the family of God.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.

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