My Heart Rejoices in the Lord

13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
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 33:13-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Get after all the good that God has placed a desire in your heart to do. Jesus Christ has finished the work of salvation, now all that remains is for us to grow up into that salvation. He has provided the armor and the victory is sure. Still, we must be willing to put on the Armor of God and fight the battles. Don’t linger in your comfort zone for more than a 10 count, or else you risk drifting off to sleep and suffering a TKO of your high design and calling in Christ Jesus. Keep moving forward in faith. And when things become overwhelming, take a knee and rest in God by faith and prayer. Do this when fatigue sets in and learn to take your rest in the Lord alone. Do not seek it elsewhere. Be still and abide in the Vine. Know that this is the will of God for us all. He who has sent you is mighty and has already won the victory for you. Be bold. Step up and claim the victory.

Question

How do we obtain the full assurance of hope?

Answer

Step 1 is to seek to know more about God from study of the Word (Matthew 6:33; 2 Timothy 2:15). Mediate on the confident certainty of the trustworthiness of God (Psalm 1:1-2; Hebrews 4:12). Step 2 is to conform your whole life according to the Word (Psalm 119:9; Proverbs 16:3; Romans 12:2). Step 3 is to pray for the full assurance of hope (Proverbs 19:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Hebrews 6:11, 10:36-39), and receive it by faith (Hebrews 11:30-40; Romans 3:21-26; 1 John 1:9-10). Just as a rudder chances the direction of a boat after a slight delay, God will surely grant it. Hold steady the course helmsman (Habakkuk 2:1-3; James 3:4; Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 32:17, 30:1-3; Revelation 1:3-6).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Delightful Are the Commands of the Lord

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein. Psalm 69:30-36 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The effectiveness of prayer starts with our understanding of its necessity. Our prayers are God’s appointed means for receiving His grace. God has ordained from the very beginning that the power of God would reign on the earth through man. That is, through the prayers of you and me. Truly, He is more willing to give than we are willing to ask. So, repent of the unbelief that spawns the grumbling and complaining that so easily slides off the tongue at the first little sign of discomfort or trouble. Better to do what the Bible says: fix your eyes on Jesus and pray for the grace you need. Praise and thanksgiving to God are especially refreshing to the soul during hard times. It doesn’t matter whether you have little or much, without gratitude it will not give you any lasting contentment. Praise the Lord. Blessed are all who have been given eyes to see, and ears to hear, that lasting contentment grows from heartfelt gratitude toward God. 

Question

What is the difference between work and play?

Answer

Play stops when it is no longer fun (Luke 15:13-14), whereas work still needs to be done even when it isn’t fun (Luke 15:15-19). All honest work is honorable no matter how great or small, but he who refuses to work is a shame to us all (Proverbs 26:14-15, 10:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). Hard work can be enjoyable, even though it is seldom fun (Ecclesiastes 3:13). Be wise and learn from the ant (Proverbs 6:6-11). Though it may leave you sweaty and stinky, hard work is good for the body, soul, and spirit (Proverbs 14:4; Ecclesiastes 9:10; John 9:4; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 6:10-12; Galatians 6:18). 

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

God is Our Strength and Shield

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 84:2-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Denying self, picking up your cross, and following Jesus Christ is the only true path to freedom from the conformities of this perishing world. Once we are born again in Christ, then is it high time to work out our salvation by fortifying the mind with the word of faith. Believe the gospel and resist the wiles of the devil. The concept of object permanence, or the understanding that objects continue to exist even when we can’t see them, develops in the human baby according to scientific researchers at about 8 months old. In like manner, growing up in our salvation means to understand that “God is” even though we can’t see Him. And praying to God is the highest privilege of the child of God. Show me who you pray for, and I will show you who you love. Tell me who prays for you, and I will tell you who loves you. How fortunate it is to have people praying for you. It is the evidence of the love of God in the heart that compels a saint so do. Gold and silver are nice, but prayer is of far greater value. Therefore, pray my brothers and sisters, pray.

Question

What do Christians believe about prayer?

Answer

Prayer is to the spirit what breathing is to the body (Psalm 116:1-2). In both cases, life often begins with s slap on the bottom to stimulate breathing and prayer (Psalm 119:67; 2 Peter 3:15; Romans 2:4; Proverbs 17:10). The prayer of faith means to pray believing that God hears (Ezekiel 36:24-29; Jeremiah 29: 11-13), believing that our prayer is pleasing to Him (1 John 1:9; Romans 12:1-2; Psalm 19:14), and believing that He will answer (1 John 5:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Philippians 2:13). A believer is a person with trust in God (Proverbs 3:5-8), and the prayer of faith is a rope of three cords that is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Psalm 27:13-14; Hebrews 13:5-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Delight in The Lord

7 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 104:31-35 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Faith moves in the direction of your mental focus, just as every experience motorcycle rider knows that the bike naturally moves in the direction set by the gaze of the eyes. For safety’s sake, the rider must learn to look where he wants to go and not where he doesn’t. This is sound advice for riding motorcycles as well as proper stewardship of the soul. Reasoning is a specific kind of mental focus that will either hinder or support your faith. Reasoning focused on deciding whether or not the Word of the God is true only weakens faith. If however, reason is used to support a biblical worldview, faith in God will grow stronger. The Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant provides us with a perfect example (Luke 7:1-10). O ye with mustard-seed-size-faith, refuse to doubt the Word of God and seek in all things to please Him. Pray in faith for the removal of every mountain that needs to be moved, and it will be moved for you. Only believe the gospel.

Question

What is praying in faith?

Answer

Praying in faith is the opposite of worrying about something (Matthew 6:26-34). The difference between the two is a matter of focus (James 5:13-18; Mark 11:22-24). Worrying is as easy as falling off the preverbal log, but so too is praying in faith just as easy (Isaiah 28:29). Faith and worry are opposite states produced by the direction of our attention (1 Peter 5:8-9; James 1:5-8; Romans 4:16-20). Faith meditates on the greatness of God and His precious promises (2 Peter 1:3; Psalm 19:14; Hebrews 11:6). While worry ruminates over a problem or situation that is sometimes real and sometimes only imagined possibility (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). So, lift your focus off the problem (1 Peter 5:7). Pray for the grace you need and then be determined to chase away every bird of prey (Genesis 15:1-11).  Shift your focus off the problem and up onto God, the source of every solution, then you will be praying in faith (Philippians 4:8; 2 John 1:8; Psalm 104:34, 92:1-2; Ephesians 3:14-21).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

O Lord My God, Rejoice in Thy Works

31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 104:31-35 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Everything is just as it should be. This is hard to accept for the carnal mind that is quick to point out all the suffering and wickedness in this fallen world. The carnal mind has only the shifting sand of circumstance and the cloudiness of current conditions on which to build their belief of reality. The wicked fail to acknowledge that our God reigns now and forevermore. He sees the end from before the beginning, and He ultimately works all things together for good for those who love Him. Things may not yet be as you or God would have them be, but things are as they should be given your minute-to-minute choices of words and deeds. Here is an important understanding: just because we have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, the fundamental principle of sowing and reaping remains. Don’t like what you are reaping,? With faith and tears change what you are sowing, and the providence of God can then perfect everything that concerns you. You can overdrive the headlights on a car, but you cannot overdrive your belief. The spiritual headlights of the soul are formed by our beliefs. This is why there are so many voices in this world seeking to influence what we believe. To what or whom are you going to listen? The Word of the God is sure, flawless, unchanging, the Rock that can always be trusted. If there is a secret to wellbeing, it’s turning away from everything which speaks contrary to the Word of the God. The true light is the Word. Faith comes by hearing the Word, and hearing comes by the Word of God. Just as no one expects a car to move without first properly starting the engine, faith moves first, then God gives in answer to faith. 

Question

How much faith is necessary?

Answer

Little faith is enough in the beginning (John 20:27-29; Romans 1:17). The Word of God is the seed (Luke 8:4-15; Psalm 126:6). As we give ourselves to prayer and cultivating the Word (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 10:4; Acts 6:4), faith and spiritual fruit grow (Mark 4:26-31; Galatians 5:22-23). Once faith has enlarged to go all in (Psalm 118:27; 1 Timothy 4:15-16), placing all the life on the alter before God (Matthew 16:21-26; Proverbs 16:3), then true fitness for this life and the next begins (1 Timothy 4:5-6; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Jude 1:21-25).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

No Evil Will Be Allowed To Conquer

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. Psalm 91:8-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The superabundant provisions of the holy God of all power and might are available to every child of God. The love of truth is among our precious gifts from God. The more truth we believe, the more lies we are able to reject. As we learn to practice the truth more and more, even the bitter things in life become sweet in the end. Renew your mind with the word of God and then you will know the good and perfect will of the Lord. That is just one of the glorious commands and promises of God to us. Faith requires your willing attention to hold on to the out stretched hand of God, and turn from everything that has even the appearance of evil. The power to become a child of God has already been given. Believe this truth by faith, and be who Go created you to be. 

Question

What does it mean to be born again?

Answer

It is not a physical re-birth at all (John 3:1-7). It is not something we can do or feel, as it is altogether a spiritual phenomenon were only its effects are seen (John 3:8-21). Chief among these effects is a spiritual allergy to sin (1 John 3:9-11). Being born again doesn’t eliminate the possibility for the child of God to sin, only that he or she will be ill at ease with any habitual sin (Romans 7:14-27; Galatians 5:16-17; Romans 12:1-2, 8:6-7). This is the new man’s nature that comes with the spiritual re-birth (John 1:5-13; Ephesians 4:17-32). The old man must be willfully denied and put on the cross to die by the power of the Spirit, so that the new man can follow Jesus Christ in the newness of life (Matthew 16:24; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Colossians 3:1-17). Robots can do massive amounts of physical work, AI can manipulate data faster than a speeding bullet, but only the born again Christian can produce fruit (Matthew 3:1-10; Galatians 5:19-29; 2 Peter 1:2-11; 1 Peter 5:6-11).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Faith is Now

8 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psalm 19:8-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

If all you do is what comes easy or what is necessary, what more do you do than the lazy and unmotivated? Do everything without grumbling, because God will provide you with the power to do all that is according to His will. Comfort and convenience are sweet to the taste, but only plaque up and rot the teeth. Faith and prayer are the brush and floss by which the teeth of our affections are cleaned. The true light of the kingdom view has been given to us through the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. God calls all of us to love Him. Reject the poison cup of the popular worldview perpetrated by the darkness of this world that denies the living God. Give your whole life over to God. Ask our heavenly Father to fill you with the fullness of Christ. Such a prayer is pleasing to God and we can be sure it will be granted. Take no backward step. Be thankful and praise God for the blessing as you wait on the Lord for the inner witness of the Spirit. Wait on the Lord, and by faith the cleansing fire will burn away all that remains of your corrupt inner affections.

Question

What are 30 second prayers?

Answer

The Holy Spirit is right at home in a soul that is a house of prayer, but grieved when we make it a den of thieves whose only desire is to profit self (Matthew 21:12-13). We are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). And like the homing pigeon released from the cage, as soon as our attention is freed from the necessities of the moment, our thoughts should return home to God. Practice then, throughout the day, whenever you can find 30 seconds or so, short prayers to God such as: Acknowledge the reverence of His name (Matthew 6:9); Affirm your devotion (Matthew 6:10); Admit your dependency (Matthew 6:11); Practice forgiveness, trust in God, praise and gratitude (Matthew 6:12-13). Great are the promised rewards (Proverbs 3:5-8). Try it and see. Beyond words to explain, it must be experienced (Psalm 145:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; Isaiah 26:1-12; Proverbs 16:3; Ephesians 3:17-21).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Teach Me Discernment

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 Morning Exhortation

The comfort zone is a sedative for the soul that rocks one to sleep with a false expectation of victory at some unknown point in the future. You may not always get what you deserve, but never expect to get more than what you have earned in this temporal world. Don’t expect to start at the top, don’t expect to move up by only doing the bare minimum, and don’t expect to get something extra for doing only what is required. Thank God Almighty that through the redemptive work of Christ Jesus, we escape what we truly deserve. Now the sons of God need to hunger and thirst for righteousness with the whole heart in full assurance that He who promises that we will be filled is faithful. Wait for the Lord. We are sons of the God of all comfort, and from Him all blessing flow. 

Question

Why do we suffer?

Answer

Suffering is a consequence of sin (Romans 8:19-22, 5:8-12; 1 John 1:9-10) and this broken world will hobble on until the end (Habakkuk 2:2-4; Isaiah 25:8-9, 19:21-25, Mathew 25:32-46). Suffering is indeed unavoidable in this present world (Ecclesiastes 9:2-4; Romans 7:24-25; 1 Peter 4: 1-2, Hebrews 5:8; Galatians 5:16-17). The best we can do is to choose our suffering wisely (Proverbs 24:27; Psalm 127:1; Ecclesiastes 9:10; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:15-19). Be of good cheer (Romans 8:18; 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18; Revelation 21:4-6). The children of God are destined not just to bare suffering and affliction, but to thrive right through it all (James 1:2-4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 11:28-30; Ephesians 6:10; Psalm 92:13-15; Ephesians 3:14-21).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Unfailing Love of the Lord Is With Us

31 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. Psalm 31:1, 4, 18-21 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Jesus Christ came from the Father to provide us the true light of the kingdom view. This world we currently live in is passing away, bur love, faith, and hope will abide. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love not the things of this world. Have faith in God, because God alone is worthy. Hope in the full salvation of Christ to be revealed with eager expectation, because vain is the hope in anything else. Strive to enter in through the straight gate, and let us not grow weary of following the narrow path. God has never failed anyone who has placed his love, faith, and hope in Him. God is true. His mercy and goodness endures forever. The Father calls. Keep your head up, shoulders back, chest out, and eyes fixed upon Christ Jesus. Rest, O ye branches, in our heavenly Vine and bear much fruit. Now go to work in absolute dependence on God to make of you all that He created you to be and do. 

Question

How can we love God when we can’t see Him?

Answer

Love doesn’t depend on physical sight (Colossians 3:2; Matthew 6:21; 1 John 2:15-17). Love depends on an intimate knowledge of the person loved (1 John 2: 3-5).  The best source for the knowledge of God is the entire Holy Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Go to Bible determined to find out WHAT to believe and it will be opened to you (Revelation 3:20). The one who goes to the Bible to decide IF they are going to believe it, will find it to be closed like a locked door without a key (John 20:24-29, 14:21-24). Start with the four gospels of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-17; Mark 10:46-52). Know that every command of God is also a promise (Matthew 22:36-40). The commands of God require our willingness to obey (Psalm 18:1), and from God comes the promise to enable us to obey (Philippians 2:13). Both the Bible and the Holy Spirit have been given to fulfil the prophecy spoken long ago (Jeremiah 31:31-34; 1 John 2:21-29). Whoever hears and believes, shall receive the blessing (Matthew 13:9-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In His Holy Name We Put Our Trust

31 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. Psalm 31:1, 4, 18-21 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Where are you? What are you doing here? Probing questions from God to the wayward heart designed to encourage self-reflection. Vain is trying to hide in the darkness away from God, and running away from the good fight of faith does not please the Captain of our salvation. In both cases, the old man must be crucified along with his fears so that the new man can live through Christ Jesus in newness of live and love. The light of Christ arising in the heart reveals the truth of who we are born to be…the sons of God. The best answer to “where are you” is “in Christ.” Like the prodigal son we were all gone astray from our heavenly Father. Jesus Christ, our holy elder brother, has paid the price to bring us back home to the Father. And now the only good response to “what are you doing here” is “glorifying God.” Yes, this is pleasing to both God and to our own soul. Abba, Father. Search my heart. Remove all wickedness from without and within me. Lead me in thy everlasting light.

Question

What is the good fight of the faith?

Answer

The primary fight for us is always against sin, and it is won or lost from within (Genesis 6:5; John 3:16; Psalm 103:10; 1 Peter 3:18-4:5). All that leads to sin is to be resisted (Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:7; 1 John 3:8). There is our own carnal mind and fleshly nature that would make us a slaves to sin (Romans 8:1-7; Romans 12:1-2). Then there is this modern world full of the darkness of sin that we currently live in, which spiritually is no different from Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction (2 Peter 2:4-9). And lastly, we fight against the forces of spiritual wickedness that would tempt us to sin (2 Peter 2:4-9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:2-4). The good fight of the faith is to protect a godly heart from which flows a godly life (John 4:23-24; Proverbs 4:20-27; Ephesians 6:13-20; 2 Timothy 4:7-8, 18).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.