Devotional for April 22

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