Return to the Lord

​7-19-21
Today’s devotion is based on Deuteronomy 30:3 “The Lord, your God, will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.”
Moses knows the people will fall away, but he also knows God will not give up on them. All they need to do is to return to God, and he will have compassion on them. We may often criticize the people of Israel for their failures, but are we any better? We know Jesus died for us, and the Father raised him from the dead – yet we still have difficulty putting God first.
Each day, we should remind ourselves of our baptism, that we have died with Christ, that we have been raised with him, that we are forgiven. We can daily return to the compassion of God as we throw ourselves at the foot of the cross and receive the forgiveness that God freely offers.
Please pray with me the prayer for today: Heavenly Father, gracious God, creator and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen; your Word shows me how patient and compassionate you are. Help me turn to you every day. Remind me of my baptism. Remind me of the death and resurrection of your dear Son. Work in me so I may love you better and thus love those around me better. In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen