Devotional for June 24

I Delight to Do Your Will, O My God

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:4-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Everyone gets tired, the great secret is not to let it control you. Feel the fatigue and joyfully get done what needs to be done anyway. We all have needs and our heavenly Father has infinitely more than we could ever need or want. Learn to ask God and pray until you have an inner assurance concerning every need. You will know this inner assurance when worry, confusion, fear, and uncertainty give way to the peace of God. Now rejoice and go to work with the full expectation of a bountiful harvest. Never speak in agreement with the inner tempter, nor entertain thoughts that are contrary to faith in the promises of God. Every doubting thought does not come from the God who has called you. Move to praising God before you see the blessing and send the enemy armed with his flaming darts of doubt running for his dark hiding places. Waiting on the Lord means to fight this good fight of faith. Hold firmly to the commands and promises of our God. Guard against every imagination that would cause the gall and wormwood of unbelief to creep up in the heart. Let perseverance finish its work. God is never late, nor He ever early. He is always right on time with all things and in every way. The Spirit teaches us to depend on the faithfulness of God. It is in believing and trusting God based on the truth as revealed in the holy Scriptures that all the promises of God are fulfilled for those who are in Christ. The one who stands fast in the faith will come to know the truth by experience. It cannot be otherwise, because Faithful and True is the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Question

How do we maintain our joy when we are hungry, tired, and worn-out?

Answer

Start with establishing a consistent routine with the opportunity to sleep for eight hours each night (Psalm 127:1-2, 4:8), and one day of rest each week (Exodus 20:9; Mark 2:24-28; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6). When stress and fatigue can’t be avoided (John 16:24-33; Philippians 4:11-13), always begin with prayer (James 5:13). Bodily fatigue makes the heart more susceptible to the wiles of the enemy (Proverbs 18:14). Therefore, be more diligent to guard your heart when you are weary (Proverbs 4:20-27; Ephesians 6:16-18; 2 Corinthians 2:11). And lastly, depend on the Lord to strengthen you (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 13:9; John 4:6, 28-36; 2 Corinthians 12:9), and the joy of the Lord will enable you to ride every wave of weariness that comes along (Psalm 42:5, 118:18-29; Nehemiah 8:10). No fatigue, weariness, or stress can ever separate us from the love of Lord (Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 3:14-21).

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.