A Prayer for When Life Takes an Unexpected DetourBy Alicia Searl Bible Reading"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." – Psalm 90:12 At the end of every year, I compile all of my pictures from my phone and create a photo book to be able to look back on and relive special family moments. These little books are tucked under our coffee table so that I can pull them out at any time and thumb through them. A few nights ago, my youngest daughter crawled into my lap with a few of those books, and with her sweet little grin, she prompted me to look at them with her. How could I refuse? We snuggled up close and giggled about the good ‘ole times. Then we got to the last book, 2021, and that was it. There were no more books after that. She and I both knew the reason why. But, instead of saying a word, she grabbed my phone and asked if we could create a book for 2022. I wanted so badly to scream, "No! Not 2022." But there was no time. She was already flipping through the pictures, and I couldn't look away. From milestone birthdays and our twentieth wedding anniversary to a kindergarten graduation, on the outside, it all looked like an amazing year, but to me, it was such a blur. There may have been sweet smiles in those photos, but pain filtered through my eyes. It was apparent that the absence of my beloved mom was glaringly obvious. Maybe you have had a year like that? Perhaps you are enduring a year like that right now, where you are trudging down the path of the unknown, unsure of what to expect as it has taken you on a disastrous detour. Oh, how I wish I had the right words to console your heart, but my words would only fall short. However, God's Word never fails and always provides us with answers when life is uncertain. The book of Psalms has always been a great comfort to me when I am blind-sighted by a detour and unable to take the next step. If you are experiencing an unexpected detour in life, I invite you to take a moment to read through some of the poetic Psalms today and let them be a healing balm to your soul. Psalm 90:12 is one such verse that beautifully reminds us that we are bound by time, but when we seek God, we can have full confidence that He will provide our hearts with wisdom. God reminds us in Psalms of the brevity of life and that we must harness our time and spend it wisely. Reminiscing over those photo albums with my daughter was bittersweet. While 2022 took our entire family on an unforeseen detour that was tainted by grief, it also brought to light how time is short, and we must cherish the time we have, especially with our loved ones. Friend, the truth is that life will be filled with tumultuous highs and lows, which is a certainty, but God promises to see us through and provide us wisdom when we come to Him in prayer. That is so comforting! Let's pray: Father God, You alone are the author and creator of this life. You tell the sun when to rise and when to set. You command the waves to crash upon the shore. You softly whisper for the flowers to bloom and the skies to bear rain. And You, Faithful Father, call us home, telling us when our time on this earth is done. O God, You alone are holy, righteous, pure, and just, and our lives are in Your loving and capable hands. Please help us trust You and remember that You hold the time, from the seconds to hours of each and every day to the beginning and end of all time. That means that you see us. You see when we veer off the path and enter into the unknown. You see when we are overcome by confusion, worry, or pain. You see it all, and while You may allow it to happen, You remind us that when we come to You, You will grant us wisdom and peace. We are so thankful for that. So, today, we draw close and ask that You grant us the comfort, wisdom, and peace we need to keep placing one foot in front of the other. Please make our paths straight and lead us back to You, God (Proverbs 3:5-6). We want to honor You with our lives and use our time wisely. Amen.  Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Andrew_Mayovskyy Alicia Searl is a devotional author, blogger, and speaker that is passionate about pouring out her heart and pointing ladies of all ages back to Jesus. She has an education background and master's in literacy.  Her favorite people call her Mom, which is why much of her time is spent cheering them on at a softball game or dance class. She is married to her heartthrob (a tall, spiky-haired blond) who can whip up a mean latte. She sips that goodness while writing her heart on a page while her puppy licks her feet. Visit her website at aliciasearl.com and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer When Life Takes an Unexpected Detour – Your Daily Prayer – September 1 appeared first on GodUpdates.

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Friend, the truth is that life will be filled with tumultuous highs and lows, which is a certainty, but God promises to see us through and provide us wisdom when we come to Him in prayer. That is so comforting!

Kind people brought a stray cat to safety, only to find out they had also saved four tiny kittens. ChalalaChatonsOrphelinsMontrealA Good Samaritan spotted a stray cat hobbling on the street with an injured paw and immediately stopped to check on her.The weary cat didn't flee when her rescuer approached her as if she'd been waiting for help. Relieved to be found, she leaned into her rescuer as she was held. The finder quickly realized the severity of her wound and contacted her local rescue for help.Despite being full, Chatons Orphelins Montreal didn't hesitate to take the cat and provide immediate care. She was found as a stray with a wounded pawChatonsOrphelinsMontrealThe cat had been living with the untreated wound for some time. "We named her Chalala. She lost two toes from her right paw," the rescue shared.Along with the other injuries they found, they suspected the cat had been in a car accident. "She was so amazingly calm, letting us tend to her without any fuss throughout the process." She was so calm when they tended to herChatonsOrphelinsMontrealAfter cleaning and treating the wound on her paw, Chalala seemed to feel much better, slow-blinking at her carers and filling the room with her rumbling purrs.She likely had been outside for a while, consuming whatever she could scavenge. "Her stomach was full of strange stuff." She was starved and tried everything she could to quell the hunger and survive. They were surprised to discover she was pregnantChatonsOrphelinsMontrealTo their surprise, Chalala wasn't only eating for herself but also for four little ones. An exam confirmed that she was pregnant. "She is tiny for a five-year-old cat. She loves being held in our arms. She is so hungry that she dives into the food when she eats."With a loving foster home and boundless food, Chalala began to heal and put on some much-needed weight. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealWhen her bandages were removed, Chalala started walking around as if nothing had happened. She healed up beautifully, and her belly ballooned. "She can walk normally now even though she is missing two toes. She has regained strength and is doing very well."Chalala explored her cozy room and sat comfortably in her bed as if giving her stamp of approval. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealShe tried out every nest and box prepared for her, testing them for the big day. The moment she heard her foster mom, she perked up and made a beeline for attention and pets.A few days ago, the foster mom woke up in the morning to quite the surprise. ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal"Chalala gave birth (to four kittens) quietly in the litter box (filled with paper litter) even though she had a comfy nest and many boxes to choose from."All the kittens looked like mini carbon copies of their mom. Chalala was relieved to have her foster carer by her side, making sure all the babies were warm and eating. After a few hours, they already put on weight. She gave birth to four tiny house panthersChatonsOrphelinsMontrealChalala seems so pleased to have a roof over her head and a kind human ensuring the safety of her kittens and that all their needs are met."She is very gentle, affectionate, and social. She was lucky to have been found when she was pregnant and in a dire situation." ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealShe watches as her foster mom weighs her kittens every day and appreciates the teamwork, attention, and the bottomless food bowl.Thanks to many compassionate people, Chalala is raising her last litter in the comfort of a loving home. The kittens are growing by leaps and bounds, with their mom doting on them every step of the way. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealShare this story with your friends. More on Chalala and Chatons Orphelins Montreal on Instagram and Facebook.Related story: Outgoing Cat Came Up to a Person Asking for Food and Help and Ended Up Landing a Place of His Dreams