Morning Meditation: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son,  whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word." - Hebrews 1:1-3a

Meditate this morning on the Creator's hands. The hands that drafted the blueprint of Creation and constructed every detail of the plan; the hands that carefully crafted every living thing and positioned each one thoughtfully; the hands that set the world in motion and gave every part its' special function; the hands that gave us springtimes' showers, summers' heat and winters' frost; the hands that buried gems and treasures in caves and underground, and placed food to feed a multitude within a single seed planted in the ground; the hands that existed before all things, and without whose hand nothing would exist; the hands that planned the world, produced it by His power, and purposed it for His pleasure - are none other than the hands of a faithful, loving, ever-present God who is holding everything together. "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17).

The Word that brought all things into existence and maintains its' every function, is actively involved in holding all things together and directing it towards the fulfillment of God's purpose: "To bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ" (Ephesians 1:10). The hands that gave us life also gave us a purpose for our lives, and that purpose is that we simply put our lives back into His hands. "A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20:24). Let us take a moment this morning, as we bow our heads to pray, and look into the hands in front of us and ask ourselves: Whose hands are we resting in today? The heavy burden of this question is one all mankind has to face. To make the choice of any other hands, than the hands of the One who gave us life, is a foolish decision, and a detriment to our very life. Praise our Creator this morning, Who is the sustaining and preserving Word, for making us alive in Him, complete in Him, and firmly rooting us in His hands.

Afternoon Devotion: " So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." -  Isaiah 41:10  

The powerful Word that created the world is the same powerful Word that controls and upholds it. Jesus exhibited His authority over nature when He walked among it, as He did when He first created it. "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be Still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm" (Mark 4:39). When the Word spoke at Creation all things came into being, and when He spoke in His Creation, at His command all nature obeyed. Winds calmed down, trees withered, water became a walkway, demons fled, illness left, fish multiplied, and the dead were raised to life. Everything in all of creation throughout all time has been under His creative and redemptive control. "Your arm is endued with power; Your hand is strong, Your right hand exalted" (Psalm 89:13).