Devotional for April 11

My Soul Longs for You, O Lord 

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:1-7, 11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Focus on doing what you can with what you have, and what you can’t do or don’t have will become less and less important (Proverbs 20:4; Ecclesiastes 11:4; 1 Samuel 14:6-7) Great is our God! There are second chances with our God, but it is foolish to take the grace of God in vain (Proverbs 27:11-12; Romans 2:4-11). Be wise (2 Corinthians 5:10). Time to get rid of everything that hinders (Colossians 3:1-3). The love and faithfulness of God will certainly establish each of us in Christ Jesus if we willingly choose it (Philippians 2:13). Our Lord Jesus Christ lives (John 20:24-31), and blessed be our Rock (Hebrews 13:8). Let the God of our salvation be exalted and all that is within us praise His holy name (Psalm 103:1-5). Truly, to know our Lord Jesus Christ is what is best in life (Philippians 3:7-14). To receive the Spirt of Christ is so essential that God has made it a command, not a suggestion (John 20:19-22). Let no one deceive you: if you ask, you will receive (Matthew 7:7-8). This you must believe or forsake your own mercy by inadvertently calling God a liar (Luke 11:11-13). 

Question

How can we have a beautiful life?

Answer

A beautiful life requires one thing, and that’s a beautiful heart (Proverbs 27:19; Proverbs 12:10; 1 Samuel 16:6-7; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Peter 3:3-4). A beautiful heart requires love, faith, and hope (Romans 5:1-5). The life in Christ Jesus has all these things and more (1 Corinthians 1:20-31).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread; Open the eyes of my faith, that I may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer