Devotional for June 1

Blessing and Favor of the Lord

8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalm 5:8-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Prayer is connecting to the divine power source in order to build up and then release the power of God on earth to do His will. God promised Elijah it would rain, and Elijah had to pray seven times before the charging of his prayer was complete. When the power is released is up to God. Our part is to continue in prayer and hold on in faith until the clouds part, the fire falls, or the dew drops down from heaven. It is a shameful tendency we have to take our blessings for granted and offer only complains for every little thing we find distasteful instead. Any morning you’re able get out of bed is the start of a good day. Just ask someone who can’t get up. Break away from the slothful habit of hitting the snooze button. Get up, give thanks, and joyfully get busy with praising the Lord.

Question

How is the favor of the Lord like a shield?

Answer

Though there be lots of different secondary causes, many of which mean harm, nothing can touch the believer who loves the Lord without the permission of God (Job 1:6-12; 1 Peter 4:15-19). The will of God is absolutely good, but the moral government of God demands freedom of choice, responsibility to choose what is right, and accountability for each choice (Isaiah 61:1-3; Psalm 33:5-9; Revelation 22:12-14). God allows this fallen world to limp on until the manifestation of all the sons of God (Romans 8:19-23). The wicked go on from bad to worse slinging flaming arrows dipped in poison (Isaiah 33:11; Psalm 34:21; 2 Timothy 3:1-7, 13-17; Mark 16:17-18; Matthew 4:5-7). If God allows any evil thing to touch the believer, the poison of it He transmutes so that all things work together for good for those who obey His commandments (John 14:15-27; Luke 12:6-7; Romans 8:28). The armor of God is the inner liner of the perfect protection of the shield provided by the favor of the Lord (Ephesians 6:10-18; Hebrews 7:22-25; Ephesians 3:14-21). 

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

Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by your providence; and that your Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.