Devotional for June 10

Stand on the Facts of the Lord

111 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Psalm 111:1-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The hamster wheel of the rat in the race is an endless striving after the things of this world. It is only by way of the Cross are we set free. Therefore, let the righteous cease all striving for the sake of self and enter into the rest of God. Pick up your cross and follow Jesus in total dependence upon God in order to die to self and live for God. Start by acknowledging the presence of God with you. Remember that feelings are unreliable sensors for spiritual realities. Good feelings are great, but they can be misleading. Nobody likes bad feelings, but they don’t necessarily mean there is a spiritual problem. Standing on your faith and not your feelings, be they good or bad, is a foundational biblical teaching. We must fight to hold on to our faith in the grace bestowed upon us by the blood of Jesus Christ. We must fight to hold on to our faith in the Father’s love. We must fight to hold on to our faith in the fellowship of the Holy Ghost. Make no mistake about it. This fight is as real as any Mixed Martial Arts in a cage fight with far more important consequences than any physical fight. Our opponent is huge being many weight classes above us, but as soon as we put our right hand into the hand of Jesus Christ he is quick to flee away from us. It is a fight without human spectators that requires both holding on and giving up to win it. Give your problems, concerns, fears, and worries about today and tomorrow to the Lord. Fall down before God and give them up. Unburden your heart and be at ease soldier. Remember the Lord your God is the Maker of heaven and earth and He reigns over all. Pray, go to work, wait on the Lord, and repeat. The victory is sure.

Question

How do we walk holding on to the Lord with our right hand?

Answer

Firstly, by acknowledging that God is (Hebrews 11:6), and lifting up our thoughts to Him in all matters big and small (Isaiah 26:1-4; Psalm 10:4). Our right hand is our will, and holiness is when we intentionally give up our will, affections, and motives in exchange for Christ’s will, affections, and motives (Isaiah 41:10-13; Romans 6:1-13). This is what it means to die to self and live for God (Matthew 16:24-26). Impossible for the carnal mind to grasp the benefit of this (1 Corinthians 2:14), but for the child of God it is the gift of righteousness that comes from being in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30). Without doing this we are like a bucket of bolts, but properly connected to the power source we become a useful vehicle fit for the Master’s use (Ephesians 4:22-24; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Psalm 19:5). Making the connection is one thing, maintaining it is another (Genesis 19:15-16, 26). To stand in faith means to stand on the facts of the spiritual realities revealed in the Holy Bible (Proverbs 19:21). Drink deep of the pure spiritual milk so that you may grow up in your salvation (1 Peter 2:2), able to feed on the true spiritual meat (1 Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 5:12-14; John 6:63, 25-59; Revelation 1:1-6).

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

Holy Father, creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is, both in heaven and on earth, take from me those thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful. Give me instead those things that are profitable for me and all who seek rightly to praise you. I ask this grace in the company of all believers and through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is, with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.