Devotional for February 26

My Help Comes From the Lord

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, our Father, Thou Searcher of human hearts, help us to draw near to Thee in sincerity and truth. May our religion be filled with gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural. Strengthen and increase our admiration for honest dealing and clean thinking, and suffer not our hatred of hypocrisy and pretense ever to diminish. Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. based on the West Point Cadet Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

Spontaneous thoughts arise from our spirit. Our spiritual faculties can be influenced by both good and evil. Love thinks no evil, neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. A flaming arrow shot from the shadows is a predictable tactic of the enemy. By suggesting one wrong thought, feelings are ignited that cause a cascade of similar thoughts and feelings that lead the mind away from God. The enemy knows that as long as he remains hidden he will not be resisted. Why do we fret when things don’t work out? Why trust in our own feeble plans and remember not the power of our God? The Bible tells us to consider it all joy when tempted with these flaming darts designed to kill, steal, and destroy. Learning to diligently resist these thousands of little things with patience develops spiritual maturity. Keep your faith in God Almighty. Do not cast away your confidence in the Word, for it will never fail. Rather cast away the faithless thoughts and imaginings the enemy slings your way. God has promised not to allow you to be tested with more than you can resist. So instead of fretting, praise God! Instead of getting upset, rejoice! Stand firm in the faith that God works all things for your good and darkness will have to flee. God has predestined us to know the truth of this liberty that is in Christ Jesus. Glory be to God Most High! Fight the good fight of faith and let the whole earth praise His holy name.

Question

Which thoughts are we to resist and cast down?

Answer

Every one that does not originate from love or smells of rotten fruit.