Devotional for July 10

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel. Psalm 128 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Taking the easy way out leads only to lost opportunity and regret. Many people don’t choose the best way in life because it looks hard and painful. Judge only by appearances, and a seemingly pleasurable, easy, fun-loving way of life will be chosen every time. Righteous judgement doesn’t shy away from what looks difficult, and is not repulsed by the temporary hardness of the way. All who rely on sight will make the difficulty of the way something they will want to avoid. This is why we are commanded to walk by faith and rely on God for all things. Know that our God is always faithful and good. So, put your hands to the plow with joy. Only in this life can we work for eternal rewards. There is nothing more any of us can do in the grave. How we are at death will determine how we will be for eternity. Wisdom demands that we be well prepared for whatever comes first, either the return of our Lord Jesus Christ or His calling us home.

Question

Why do we train?

Answer

Training is everything and everything is training (…). Train the way you will fight (…), because you will fight the way you have trained (…). Training for the metabolic conditioning of the soul requires three things: denying self (…), picking up your cross (…), and following Jesus Christ (…).

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

O God, you have taught me to keep all your commandments by loving you and my neighbor: Grant me the grace of your Holy Spirit, that I may be devoted to you with my whole heart, and united to others with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.