Month: April 2023

faith

Devotional for April 30

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Safety of the Abiding Presence of the Lord

91 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.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
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 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Truth will set you free while falsehood only enslaves, kills, steals, and destroys. Truth with a capital “T” cannot be determined by how we feel or what we see. We come to know Truth by believing the revealed Word of God. Feelings and circumstances are pleasant when they support Truth, but they are as unreliable as shifting sand when they are contrary to Truth. To be in Christ is to be in Truth. All persuasion to doubt the veracity of the Word of God doesn’t come from God. The Truth of God never changes, therefore it can be trusted come rain and shine, morning and night, now and forever. Faith that stands on the Truth of God will never fail, because He who has said so is faithful and true. Place your faith in God alone, because He alone is worthy of it. In Christ we are made whole by grace. By living the Truth of God our strength is renewed day by day. Believe the Truth and it will shall set you free. 

Question

What is the difference between a pretty face and a beautiful continence?

Answer

A pretty face has to do with physical characteristics while a beautiful continence has more to do with facial expression than physical characteristics. A pretty face is the hardware while a beautiful continence is software. A pretty face is the television set while a beautiful continence is the program being broadcasted. A pretty face is given or not given by God. A beautiful continence is the adornment of the soul (1 Peter 3:1-4). Our continence is like a GPS of the soul that displays our spiritual temperature and the state of our mind (Isaiah 3:9-11). Your habitual way of thinking and feeling will always show as your default facing expressions for all the world to see (Galatians 6:7-8). The more you pray and mediate on Word of God the more beautiful your continence will become (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; Romans 12:1-2; Luke 9:29). Let your light so shine that all who see your face may glorify your Father in heaven (Psalm 43:5; Ecclesiastes 8:1; Matthew 5:14-16).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

I thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered me from the dominion of sin and death and brought me into the kingdom of your Son; and I pray that, as by his death he has recalled me to life, so by his love he may raise me to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 29

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Love of the Lord Is Everlasting

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. Psalm 103:13-18 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The illusion of youth is that youth will last forever. It is has been said of old that youth is wasted on the young because they waste so much time in the vain pursuit of pleasure. Most people consider themselves blessed if they survive the foolishness of youth with only a few scars and some small pieces of unwanted emotional baggage. It’s only when we realize how short life actually is that having fun becomes much less important than the wellbeing of our soul. The pattern for the well-being of the human soul has been given to us in the Holy Bible. We must start with the Alpha (God) and consider our end when our soul returns to the Omega (God). The means is just as important as the ends for determining whether or not our lives are pleasing to the God. Let your every intention be to glorify God. Let your motive be the love of God, and your means be to conform to His word. The littleness or greatness of our work in the eyes of other people doesn’t matter. Doing the will of God from the right motive and the right means gives even the mundane and routine things of life an eternal value of great worth.

Question

Why is inner peace so hard to find in those of us who live in this modern world?

Answer

It is because the love of many has grown cold (Matthew 24:12) and we are constantly bombarded with evil reports at every turn–at home, at work, when we go out, when we come in, and all day long on the smart phone glued to our hands (Numbers 13:30-14:2). An evil report is simply the relaying of predictions or perceptions of circumstances, events, and happenings without acknowledging the infinite greatness of Almighty God (Revelation 1:8; Hebrews 4:9-13; Psalm 10:4; Psalm 42:5; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Peter 5:6-10). There can never be rest for the heart that refuses to come to the knowledge of the God of Peace (Hebrews 4:1-7; Psalm 24:7-10; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 3: 16-18).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 28

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord Almighty Is With Us

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46:1-7 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Life is but an empty soap bubble waiting to burst without God dwelling in the heart. Physical appearance in its best state is but a fleeting vanity fair. Hitch your hope to that wagon, and time will cause you to suffer a million tiny deaths before you die. Looking good is great, but without good health it profits nothing. A good looking corpse is as dead as an ugly one. The skillful hands of a plastic surgeon may enhance the illusion, but such vanity never leads to lasting happiness. It is pride that causes us to exaggerate the importance of looking good. It is envy and pride that causes us to compare ourselves with others and to feel bad when we judge them better than ourselves. Christ Jesus died on the Cross so we could be free from the bondage and burden of all such errors of the heart like envy, pride, and pretense. The wisdom of humility is offered to us when we are placed into a right relationship with God. Fix your eyes on Jesus and turn from vanity and evil. By faith working through love, comes a sure hope in God. Faith, love, and hope filling the heart sets the fear of the Lord before our eyes as a protective boundary to help guard us along the way. And these are the signs of those who love the Lord: they obey His commandments and they bear the fruits of the Spirit.

Question

How do we obtain to such spiritual heights promised in the Gospel?

Answer

Striving must cease (Psalm 39:4-7). If we could do it ourselves, we won’t need a savior (Matthew 19:23-26). Pride is the great hardening agent of the unbelieving heart (Hebrews 3:7-19). Hear the promise of the spiritual gift we all need: Seek to know God (Jeremiah 29:11-13; Proverbs 23:26; Psalm 27:8), give Him your heart (Psalm 32:9; Proverbs 3:4-8), and He will surely make Himself known to you (Ephesians 2:1-5; John 14:21-22; Revelation 3:19-22; Luke 12:32).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 27

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

They Will Still Be Praising Thee

84 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. Psalm 84 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

You get knocked down, you get back up. Circumstances are temporary. A life of 120 years is a mere grain of sand on the beach of eternity. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be well prepared for both this life and eternity. Love is everlasting. Whether you ultimately thrive and bloom, or shrivel and die, depends greatly on the condition of your soul. Accept the spiritual curriculum ordained by the divine providence of God to fit you for greater works. The fit are willing to live by faith while the unfit live by what they see. The fit meditate on the word of God so that they are careful to do all that is written, while the unfit must be held in by bit and bridle like a horse or mule. The fit seek to be guided by the eye of God in all things, while the unfit are self-willed, seeking to please self in all things. The fit are willing to wait on the Lord until they are clothed with power from above, while the unfit rush ahead trying do God’s work in their own strength. The fit wholeheartedly do all the will of God, while the unfit will do as Saul and spare what should have been destroyed. The fit will say like Job, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15), while the unfit turn back from following the Lord when the going gets tough. Will to be fit for the Lord and the kingdom of heaven. 

Question

How often do you need to read and mediate on the word of God?

Answer

How often do you need to eat? How often do you need to breathe? As essential as food and air are to the physical body (Matthew 4:1-4; John 6:63; Hebrews 2:1), so is the word of God to the soul that wills to know God (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrew 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 1). 

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 26

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

His Mercy Endures Forever

136 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1-9, 25-26 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Tough times come to all, but that’s okay. Make the will of God your delight and the joy of the Lord will be your strength. Believe the gospel. Nothing is able to take away your joy if you only believe. Getting started is usually not fun. Everything requires effort and seems hard in the beginning. No way around this ladies and gentlemen. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Endure the purifying process on the straight path to the narrow gate, wait on the Lord, and God shall bring forth your righteousness shining brighter and brighter until the full light of the noon day. Trust the Lord. The power that spread out the stars like a curtain, the power that brought forth Jesus Christ up from the grave, that same power is at work in each of us who believe in Him.

Question

The mercy of God is available to all who chose His way, but what do you will mercy to do for you?

Answer

This question is not a play on words. To wish for a thing is lighter than a feather and vanishes with the slightest of winds (Psalm 78:9). To want something is a weak motivation that fails when met with adversity (Proverbs 24:10). To will a thing on the other hand (John 17:24-26), puts the whole mind, body, soul, and spirit behind the intention (Mark 10:46-52). The sure mercies of David await all with the audacity to persistently trust in the Lord (Isaiah 55:3; Luke 11:1-13; Ephesians 3:14-21).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 25

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

In His Holy Name We Put Our Trust

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Psalm 33:18-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Thoughts are the roots and feelings are the fruit. Neither are faith and physical fitness mutually exclusive throughout the days of our pilgrimage here on earth. If the body were like a train, physical fitness would provide the basic maintenance, and faith would be the wheels that keep the train on the right track. Faith is required from beginning to end, and time will only leave the body weak without physical fitness. Let all be strengthen by each. Be quick to cast down the evil thoughts of an unbelieving heart that concur with the accusations of the devil. Don’t entertain such thoughts or they will hinder the effective communication of your faith. This trap of the tempter is designed to side track you from the straight and narrow way. Any thoughts that cause you to doubt the truth of any of God’s promises are NOT inspired by the one who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Therefore, guard the heart against unbelief. The desire for holiness within as well as without isn’t a nicety, it’s an absolute necessity. The better the train of thought, the better the fruit.

Question

Why do we need to pray for patience?

Answer

Because every good thing takes time. To make a cake you have to collect the proper ingredients. Then mix them together just right. Then place them in a pan and preheat the oven for baking. There’s no rushing the baking, you just have to wait. Think about how many things God had to bring together to place you where you are right now having known each of us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Try to wrap you head around that one and stand in awe of the Almighty God. Having chosen you (John 15:16), He then had to wait for you to come to your senses and choose Him (Philemon 1:14; Romans 2:4). The promises of all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus are sure (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3-15). Be patience therefore (James 5:7), it is God who works in you to will and do according to His goodness (Philippians 2:13; Philemon 1:6). Wait on the Lord, knowing that He will bring everything that concerns you to perfection at just the proper time (Psalm 138:8; 92:1-2).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

fitness

Workout After Broken Plans

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Cossack Squat to the right down position
Cossack Squat to the right down position
Cossack Squat start/finish or top position
Cossack Squat start/finish or top position
Cossack Squat left down position
Cossack Squat left down position

The NPC Charlotte Cup was a couple of days ago and I didn’t compete in it. I’ve known for a few weeks now that I would not be able to compete. I could talk about lot’s of reasons, tiny little things that got in the way. I could, but I won’t. Bottom-line is that God has let me know that it is not yet time.

I fully realize the tightrope I’m walking when I talk about hearing a personal message from God. There is ample reason for suspecting any such statement as there have been plenty of nut-jobs in history who have justified all sorts of evil with such. Should we then not seek to hear God based off of the possibility of falling into this dangerous error? Think of what we miss out on if we don’t seek the promise that His sheep will hear His voice. Only the fool rushes in without proper care and safeguards. I press forward to the promised fullness of God with fear and trembling.

I was not able to compete, in fact, I have barely been able to even workout these past six weeks or so. Still, I’m not disappointed in the least. I know Him in whom I believe. Even in weakness and failure the heart that trusts the Lord still wants to praise Him. I know that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13-14).

Today’s Workout Description

Back in the USA Date: 24 April 2023 | Start: 4:10 am EST | Finish: 5:10 am EST

Warm up: Nothing except starting slowly.

Main Work: Focused on legs. Hamstring and knees need strengthening. Used bodyweight only.

  1. Single-leg deadlift: Touched the floor 45 degrees to the left, then to the front, and then to the right. Hand on same side first, then hand on opposite side in all three positions. Switched leg and repeated.
  2. Cossack squat: Ten reps on each side. Alternated side-to-side and toe up/ toe in line. Felt a good pain in the hammies after this one.
  3. Repeated single-leg deadlifts as stated in #1 above. Balanced was more challenged after doing the Cossack squats. I consider that an extra bonus.
  4. Knees over toes split squat: Ten reps each side.
  5. One last set of Single-leg deadlifts repeating technique described above.

NOTES: Working on knee strength without causing myself pain in normal activities for the next few days. There is a sweet spot and I have learned the hard way that it is better to error on the too little side than it is on the too much.

Cool Down: No cool down. Finished the workout with 40 minutes on the stationary bike listening to The Christ-Centered Preaching of Martin Lloyd-Jones on audiobook. Only about half way through this audiobook and I have already decided that I will be listening to over again once I have finished it. In deed, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

The purpose of this blog is to encourage, inspire, and connect with other like-minded Christian men who are over the age of 40. Subscribe with your email. Leave some comments pertaining to the faith, fitness, bodybuilding, and working out. Praying that all who find this blog may be blessed by it.

faith

Devotional for April 24

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord Will Bless Both Small and Great Who Trust Him

115 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
11 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. Psalm 115:1-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Blessed is the child that knows what the mercy of God must do for him or her. The curse of this fallen world has left us weak in the flesh, with depravity of soul, and alienated from God in spirit. Recognize the importance of the physical body to the spiritual life. The body is meant to be an instrument of righteousness rather than a facilitator of sin. Once you begin the journey to spiritual and physical fitness, you must never look back with desire for your old unhealthy ways. Athletic success is possible only with devotion to the sport being pursued. How much more deserving of whole-hearted devotion should be our pursuit of God? There really is no need to worry about anything if you will only believe the gospel.

Question

How important is it to trust the Lord?

Answer

Trust is the vital connection between belief and faith. Just as a person who can read, but doesn’t, is no better off than the person who can’t read, to believe without trust is no different than unbelief (Matthew 17:19-20). If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (James 2:19), you must step up to trust Him (Romans 10:11) if you would be loosed from your unbelief (Luke 6:46-49; Mark 9:23-24; John 20:27-29; Luke 13:10-13; Jeremiah 17:7-8).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 23

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

He Has Made the Whole World

93 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. Psalm 93 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

If you believe a sore neck is too high of a price to pay to develop your neck muscles, you might as well have an eraser on your head. We miss the abundant life promised by Christ when we allow ourselves to be convinced that we need God and ________ . It doesn’t matter what you fill in the blank with, it will be like a ball and chain that keeps you from the fullness of God in Christ Jesus. God alone is our exceeding sufficient provision and reward. Better to endure hardness as good soldier of Jesus Christ than it is to feast, drink, and chase after all that is shiny and best in this life. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. All else is vanity says the preacher, and count other things as dung compared to coming to the knowledge of God says the apostle. 

Question

What have time and judgement to do with life?

Answer

Everything (Ecclesiastes 8:5). Past, present, and future are only this side of eternity (Psalm 90:1-4). Past, present, and future contain all our days in this life (Psalm 90:12). The present, the now, is the only time we can make amends for the past, effect the conditions for the future, and prepare for eternity (Luke 19:8-9).  Faith, hope, and love are the three things that abide in this life (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love, being the greatest of these three, also abides in eternity. After this life, eternity will bring one of two things: eternal bliss or eternal misery (Matthew 25:1-13). Judgement will end in one of these and there is nothing in between (Matthew 25:31-46). The wise will take these things to heart (Proverbs 4:26-27). Consider well how you live now, because it will determine how you spend eternity (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; Psalm 95:6-11; Titus 2:11-14).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 22

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Tremble at the Presence of the Lord

114 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 114 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

One of the beauties of the Gospel is that we can come just as we are, but we are not to stay that way. The spiritual re-birth makes it possible for all things to be new. This is the Lord’s doing. No longer slaves to our own sinful desires or caught up in the wicked pursuits of world. We have been freed so that we can love the Lord our God with all our heart and serve Him only. We only need to be willing to put away our foolish ways and be conformed to the truth of God in Christ Jesus. Sincerely ask God for this blessing. Remember He has promised if you believe when you ask it will be done for you. His word is a guarantee that never fails. Once you have given your all to God, the temptation to take back control of any part of your life does not come from God. Intending form the heart to live your life devoted to God is a spiritual sacrifice made acceptable through Jesus Christ. Know that trials that bring thoughts of doubt, worry, and fear are but evil birds of prey swooping down to steal the offered sacrifice. Hold fast to faith and you will chase them away. When they return, be prepared to chase them away again and again. This is the victory that overcomes the world…our faith in God.

Question

How do we reach a higher more spiritual life?

Answer

By letting go of anything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God (Ecclesiastes 8:1-8; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:6-11; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 2 Timothy 4:6-18)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer