Devotional for May 16

The Lord is My Strength

9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. Psalm 118:9-16 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Choose wisely what you will love. We will be rewarded in this life and beyond accordingly. The Bible states that the love of money is the root of all evil. Better to have a little bread with peace, than a mountain of gold with a constant fearful looking over the shoulder. Love money and it will never love you back. It promises to be the answer for everything, but at its best it is just a covering not a cure. Money provides no saving health for the soul. Better to be strengthen by grace rather than by money, strong drink, or pharmaceuticals. We are made strong and courageous when we get right with God and ask Him to make us so. Have faith in God. He has promised grace to strengthen the inner man of all who come to Christ Jesus. The love of God is the only real harbor of safety that brings long-term peace and wellbeing. 

Question

How do we stay strong as we age?

Answer

The foundation for strengthening the outer man includes weight training, nutrition, and lifestyle (3 John 2; Deuteronomy 33:25; Philippians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 4:4-5). We are more than physical though, the inner man must also be strengthen with wisdom, or we rot from within (Matthew 23:25-27; 1 Timothy 4:8; Proverbs 24:5; Psalm 1:4-6; Ephesians 3:14-21).

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

Remember, O Lord, what you have wrought in us and not what we deserve; and, as you have called me to your service, make me worthy of your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.