Devotional for May 30

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.