Devotional for July 17

My Lips Will Sing with Joy

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt. Psalm 71:21-24 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

No one ever has enough money, and everybody likes firm butts and flat guts. Such waters are so shallow however, that you will only be left thirster after have drunk your fill of them. Life only makes sense when you place God above all else in His rightful place on the throne of your heart. Drink deeply of this truth and allow the understanding that God alone is worthy of all worship and praise to nourish your soul. There is a way to a higher life set before us, and that way is deeper down into a life given up to Christ Jesus.

Question

Why do we need to learn to think like Christ?

Answer

Youth is wasted on the young who refuse to turn from thinking like the worldly wise (Scripture). We are stewards of the grace and truth given to us in by Christ Jesus (Scripture). To mature into the full measure of Christ, we must first learn to think like Christ (Scripture). We grieve the Spirit by resisting His equipping of our mind to guard our heart (Scripture). The heart consists of the part that thinks, the part that feels, and the part that wills (Scripture). We have been given the mind of Christ, , the desire of Christ, and the peace of Christ so that we may shine as guiding lights in this fallen world (Scripture).

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

O Lord, receive the prayers of your servant who calls upon you, and grant that I may know and understand what things I ought to do, and that I also may have the grace and power to faithfully accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.