How Majestic is the Name of the Lord

8 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Set me free, O God, from the bondage of my sins, and give me the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to me in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

Fear not to work harder than others, or to have to wait longer than most for the fruitful harvest. How far, how high, and when are much less important than living by faith continuously. The saying “pray until you pray” essential means the only way to learn how pray is by doing it. The one who is too busy to pray is like the man in such a hurry that he thinks he doesn’t have the time to stop for fuel when his car is low on gas. Such a one should not be surprised when he is left stranded near the ditch by the side of the narrow way. Run not after worldly wealth and honors like those who do not know God. There is no profit in heaping up treasure in this world. Fix your heart on the things of God. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. By conforming to Christ in this world, we are made fit for paradise in the next. Such is the will of God for all believers. O Lord, be thou exalted, and let everything that has breath praise thy holy name.

Today’s Question to Consider

If God be for us, who can stand against us?

Who is Like You, O God?

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt. Psalm 71:19-24 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Set me free, O God, from the bondage of my sins, and give me the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to me in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

To know the body leads to health. To know self leads to wisdom. To know God leads to life. These three fit together like hand, liner, and glove. But who can keep the body under, who can dethrone self, and who can enter into the light of life? Only those who respond appropriately to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Being born again is merely the beginning of the path of this upward call, and the crucified life is but the middle. Press on brothers and sisters. By the grace of God, let us press on. 

Today’s Question to Consider

Why is grace so amazing?

Dwell in the Shelter of the Most High

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91:3-7, 14-16 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Set me free, O God, from the bondage of my sins, and give me the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to me in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

Working for physical beauty alone is like watering cut flowers. Though death may be delayed, there is no lasting life without having roots growing in the love of God. Pursing personal holiness for the love of God is to cultivate an inner beauty that will last forever. Don’t be short sighted. Look past the temporal things of this world and focus on the eternal life set before you. Then will denying self and living the crucified life in Christ Jesus become a joy. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and know His peace which surpasses understanding.

Today’s Question to Consider

This world is full of many ways that seem right, and more are invented every single day. Surrounded as we are with so much volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, how are we to know the right way to go?

Like a Weened Child

1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
3 Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever. Psalm 131 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Set me free, O God, from the bondage of my sins, and give me the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to me in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

Roll with the punches and keep moving into the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Unhappy is the ungrateful heart that only wants more, gets it, and then turns to whine for better still. You can be happier in the next five minutes if you will just look around and thank God for some of what He has already given you. The unruly child never learns that contentment with godliness is great gain. The fear of the Lord is so little to be found among most people, so they busy themselves chasing only after things that perish. Why worry and fret over lying vanities that only last a moment? Remember our eternal destination and hold firmly to the narrow way. 

Today’s Question to Consider

Is there anything you’ve been complaining about that is actually a blessing for which you should be thankful?

I will Give Attention to Your Ways, O Lord

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:9-16 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Set me free, O God, from the bondage of my sins, and give me the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to me in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

God is able to provide abundantly more than we could ever need from little or nothing at all. Even though the rate of change in this world is increasing day by day, becoming more and more uncertain, blessed is the one who builds his house on the Rock. Blessed is the one who is not conformed to this world. The one who minds the things of the Spirit and does not forget his God. Joyfully give up what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot lose. God has demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Since God is for us, Christ will surely be revealed in us if we believe and desire it with all our heart. He has promised, therefore it cannot be otherwise. Eye has not seen and mind cannot imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him. A very long life in this world is infinitely shorter than eternity. Even if we are called to spend 120 years suffering for the Lord in this life, it would still be just a finite pain for an eternal gain. 

Today’s Question to Consider

How do we nurture the seed sown amongst the thorns?

Restore Us, O Lord God of Hosts

80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
18 So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
19 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. Psalm 80:1-3, 17-19 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

The conscience confirms the rightness of obedience to God. The inner tempter seeks to steal many small victories though. Allow the enemy no foothold. The regenerated conscience provides good counsel for willing decisions to turn from the sinful ways of this world, and to put on ways of the new man created to be holy in Christ Jesus. If you say in simple child-like faith, “I have put off the old man and I put on the new,” it will be done for you. Pray in faith. Understand this is the way. Conscience confirms it. Mentally we must choose it. Now set the will to obey God by faith. God is good seems an understatement. Perhaps that’s why the Master has said that God alone is good. All power and might are in His hand. He strengthens all who are determined to do His will in the way He has prescribed it to be done. Know that God is….regardless of how things look or how we feel at any given moment. Know this is true as surely as you know that 1 + 1 = 2. It then becomes a reality for us to consider it all joy when our faith is tested. Faith is often tested in fogs of doubt and clouds of unknowing. Faith is also tested in difficulties and heavy burdens. Faith thus tried is more precious than gold that has been refined seven times in the fire. Though it all, God waits for us to cultivate our dependence on Him. It is only when we are weak in ourselves, that God makes us strong in Him. Don’t wait to see if it is so. Sight always follows the testing of faith, and never precedes it. From beginning to end, from faith to faith, all good things are to the praise of the grace of God. Air to breathe and food to eat, every creature needs the rest of creation. If we are to know peace, however, we need more. We need faith to know Christ and this truth shall set us free.

Today’s Question to Consider

What does it take to make faith in God easy?

Afterwards the Lord Will Take Me Into Glory

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. Psalm 73:21-28 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

Persistence is the pain that brings the gains. Many things may get you where you want to go, but only if you are willing to keep working even though the pace seems slow. Practice the art of contentment by trusting God. God alone is the Rock. Feelings are unreliable. The emotional faculty of the brain exists to create meaning of present circumstance. Feelings are just the brain’s best guest, which is limited to our physical sensastions and what has been learned from our past experiences. Feelings are sometimes right and sometimes wrong. Therefore, trust God, rely on His word, and take no counsel from contradictory thoughts and feelings. Many things may work, but thank God there is only one straight gate and narrow way that leads to eternal life. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. This is the most essential knowledge for every human being on the planet. We have everything when we know this. Without this knowledge, even if a soul has the very best of everything life in this world has to offer, in the end it will amount to less than nothing. Hear this: pray and work. Let feelings be what they may.

Today’s Question to Consider

The discipline necessary to get things done…is it a feeling or a choice?

Teach Me Good Judgement

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Psalm 119:65-72 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Exhortation

Pay attention to your thoughts with constant diligence. Stand firm in your faith by rejecting all thoughts that are not consistent with obedience to Jesus Christ. Don’t allow yourself to entertain any ungodly thoughts arising from the slickly packaged products created by those who have no understanding of the fear of the Lord. We are not to be overcome by evil, rather we are commanded to overcome evil with good. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God needed to save our brothers and sisters out of the fire. All who believe are made right with God through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Let us first take heed for our own souls, then God can use us to bless others. Therefore, pray, train, eat, sleep, and repeat. Hold to these basic fundaments like a farmer who doesn’t dig up the seeds that have been sown to see if they are growing. Let the world of God grow richly in your heart. Be not afraid, only believe and trust the Lord to bring forth the harvest in its due season.

Today’s Question to Consider

What does “we have access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” mean? (See Romans 5)

Rest in the Shadow of the Almighty

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Psalm 91:1-7 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

The world will cheer when you slay the giant, but the same people will turn against you when Ziklag is burned to the ground. Seek the friend who will never forsake you. Jesus Christ is the friend that sticks closer than a brother, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Almighty. Nothing is too difficult for the Lord. He has made us anew by His glorious power. Have faith in God. Trust Him with all your heart, and He will give you the peace we all desire. The faith that saves is a living faith. Not just of the lips, but also of the heart. A living faith causes the whole life to be ordered according to it. Give up all self-interest and unbelief if you would have all that God has for you. The Lord instructs us to first count the costs, because nothing of the old ungodly life is to be kept. All must be made new. We don’t do good works to be saved, we do good works because by faith we have been saved. The difference is extremely important to understand. Pray, because 100% of the results depends on God. Now go to work, because 100% of our responsibility is to trust the Lord.

Today’s Question to Consider

What cannot be done if we totally depend on God?