LEA Weekly Devotion

Mindful Matters series 2021

Week of January 24, 2021

Good Morning

Wow! Can you imagine taking a trip, finding a place to sleep for the night, and asking for a wake-up call? Never mind the hard pillows, the tall ladder alongside your unkempt bed, or the leaky roof. At least you could see the stars, and after giving it some thought, conclude that it wasn’t much different from home.

Until the frightening wake-up call came.

Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said, “God is in this place—truly. And I didn’t even know it! He was terrified. He whispered in awe, “Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God’s House. This is the Gate of Heaven” (Gen. 28:16–17).

Do you ever have mornings like that? Frightening and dreadful dreams may be common, but when you return to reality, do you fully appreciate your experience?

You might ask, “What does this have to do with me?” (Or, “Why does this devotion feature so many questions?”)

Truth is, you experience, at least partially, Jacob’s story every day—er, night. Perhaps, like Jacob, you don’t even know it. But you do indeed awaken to the incredible and wonderful place that is God’s house, His gate of heaven wide open to His holy space. And you are there!

You might be thinking that maybe you woke up someplace else. You can’t identify anything holy about today’s headlines, the weather, or the latest governmental goop. But please look again. Yes, the sun is up there today, right where God wants it to be. Most of the people you love, like, or just associate with are still around. Best of all—better than anything else—you are with the God who makes it a holy day for you through the sacrifice and victory of His Son, Jesus Christ. Heaven and Earth’s gate meet in the presence of the Word!

It’s a good morning filled with great things. So, what are you waiting for?

By the way, you might want to find a better pillow before tonight.

Music matters: Today matters!

Mindful matters: What was the last thing for which you woke up praising God?

Written by Edward Grube, LL.D.
Director of Communications
Copyright ©2021 Lutheran Education Association

Quoted Scripture: MSG®

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