Devotional for June 26

My Soul Rests in God Alone

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 62:5-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Look at the lifestyle of the middle-aged and it is easy to predict their future quality of life should the Lord allow them to live to be old and gray. Another thing just as certain — (no matter who you are, what titles you have won, or how much money you have) – there is no value in material gain without knowing Jesus Christ. Faith in God is far better than self-discipline. Prayer in accordance with the truth of God is far more effective than diet, physical exercise, performance enhancing drugs, and any other combination of things based solely on the elementary principles of this world. The truth of God is the solid rock of eternity. Physical realities are merely the shifting sands of now. As we learn to depend upon the truth of God rather than our physical senses, only then do we become free. Build your life on the Jesus Christ and blessings for self and others will follow.

Question

How important is what we say?

Answer

We are like small mirrors made to reflect divine glory (Genesis 1:26-27). We can say “I will now move my finger” and it moves (Psalm 82:1-7, Psalm 12; Isaiah 57:15-21). Speaking and moving our little finger  is but a small reflection of the unlimited power of God to speak and His will be done (Hebrews 11:1-3; Luke 4:1-4). Exactly how God calls into existence the things that are not (Romans 4:16-25), is not something we need to know (Ecclesiastes 3:14; Deuteronomy 29:29). If such details were important for us to know, Jesus Christ would have told us (John 14:2). What is clear from the Scriptures is that as the off-spring of God (Acts 17:28), what we say is very important to God (Proverbs 18:20-21; Matthew 12:33-37). Having a good conversation is more to be desired than are big muscles or a pretty face (Acts 17:29-31; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 3:1-4, 13-16, 4:7-11).

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

Lord, make me have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, fore ever and ever. Amen.