Today's reading

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" -Matthew 4:4 NIV

January 2, 2023

Up

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" -Matthew 4:4 NIV

When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you think about? What if you started your morning with a word that affected your entire day? What if you chose to start the day off with a positive focus, rather than a negative one? The word doesn’t have to be anything complex or exciting; but when it’s empowered with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, it can be life changing.

For example, up is a simple word that means a lot. It can mean going toward a higher place, position, or level of intensity. Every morning we have the opportunity to wake up, rise up, cheer up, and build up. What does the Bible say about the word up? In Luke 17:19 (NLT), Jesus told the man to“stand up”as his faith had made him well.

In Acts 9:40 (NIV), Peter prayed, and a little girl who had died sat up. In Joshua 7:13 (NLT), the Israelites were told to “get up” and purify themselves. In Matthew 17:7 (NLT), Jesus told the disciples to “get up” and to not be afraid. You can choose to start your day with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in just one word. So, rise up and start your day!

prayer focuses

Pray that the Lord will empower you with the strength to rise up and overcome any adversity today.

Ask the Lord to give you a focus today that is pleasing to Him.

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about the

Author

Brenda Beattie

Brenda Beattie is a retired letter carrier and an active Chaplain for the USPS. She and her husband retired to Bradenton because they loved their church, Bayside Community Church. She has self-published two books, "Finding Sacred Ground In The Daily Grind," and "The Case Of The Missing Letter." She is also a repeat author for "Chicken Soup For The Soul." Her articles appear monthly in the "Mountaineer," a postal publication. Her hearts desire is to encourage and to give hope.