Devotional for June 21

Praise to God for His Salvation and Providence

65 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. Psalm 65:8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

To want one thing and do another, or to say one thing and practice another, is so common among us that it almost seems normal. Stop using the right hand to struggle against the left. This is what we do when we try to use our own strength to overcome our sinful habits and practices. Give up this struggle, because it is not by our strength that we overcome the world in us. The Bible clearly tells us it is our faith in Christ which overcomes the world. Fall down under the burden of that which has been oppressing you. That’s right, fall down on your knees with sincerity of heart and ask for the mercy of the Lord. Our God is gracious! He bestows mercy to all who humble themselves and call out to Him for deliverance. By His divine power we are crucified with Christ to the world, and the world is crucified in us. Accept it by faith, know that it is the will of God, ask for it to be done, believe it and it will be so. The old you is dead. The old me is dead. Good riddance to them both. Now are we new creations in Christ Jesus. You must believe it before you come to know it. Praise God and rejoice even before you see it. 

Question

Why do we oppose ourselves?

Answer

Because we heed the lying vanities that come from the flesh, the world, and the devil (Jonah 2). Having been washed from our former sins (Ephesians 5:25-27), all of our life must be willingly placed under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 6:46-49). This is how we are able to walk in the Spirit rather than the lusts of the flesh (Ephesians 4:11-27; Galatians 5:16-26). The wisdom of this world if full of the corrupting influence of sin that only seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:1-10; 1 John 3:8, 10-15; Revelation 20:1-6). The devil prowls around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:6-8), but he has no authority over the born again child of God as long as we keep the yoke of Christ upon us (Psalm 32:8-9; Colossians 1:9-13). The devil seeks to persuade us to come back to his kingdom of rebels with the same lie he used in the Garden about being the captain of our own soul (Revelation 2:1-7). The day will come when all that is false will be casted away forever (Matthew 13:41-42). No matter how real something seems in the present, all lying vanities will be shaken and removed (Hebrews 12:22-29; Revelation 22:6-21).

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

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.