Devotional for July 1

God the Rock of My Salvation

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Action and intent are always parts of the same tree. The action being the fruit and the intent being the root. The tree is planted in the soil created by the desires of the heart. The Word of God is the seed, but a hard unbelieving heart will produce only the rotten fruit and weeds of this present world. This is true regardless of whether we believe it to be so or not. The love of God (with no other preference before Him) is the condition, the proof, and the reward all in one. Try it and see for yourself. Give Jesus all, and you will get all in return. Let all the intentions of the heart be pure. Let the redeemed of the Lord thirst for the living God and joyfully say, “come, Lord Jesus, come!

Question

What are the flaming darts of the wicked?

Answer

The flaming darts, which if left unchecked will set soul ablaze with coveting (wrong desires) or worry/doubt/fear, are suggestive thoughts based on the circumstances we see, the events we hear about, or the bodily sensations we feel (Romans 7:7; Matthew 4:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:7). What the mind accepts as true, the heart believes, and what the heart believes the body will manifest (Romans 1:16-32; 2 Corinthians 3:5-18). It is righteousness in the heart and the professing of truth with the mouth that sets the enemy fleeing from the fire (Romans 10:5-11; Revelation 11:3-5). Therefore, he who controls what the heart believes is like the captain directing the tiny rudder that controls the entire ship (James 3:3-4; Psalm 32:9-11; 1:1-2). Give not this power over you to the enemy (Ephesians 4:21-30). Therefore, submit yourself to God, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10-18; Hebrews 10:35-39; James 4:7; Romans 8:28-39; Ephesians 3:14-21).

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

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant that all of us may be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.