Devotional for May 25

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.