Devotional for July 28

Happy Are Those Who Delight In the Word the Lord

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:9-16 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Choose your friends wisely. All doers of dirty deeds done in the darkness will forever fear the light of discovery. Saying that everyone else is doing it will never make what is wrong something right. Even in the light, the lure of material gain can be blinding. Money does seem to be the answer for everything in the natural, which is the external world perishing all around us. If the inner man trusts in money however, it only draws him to the things of earth and away from the living God. Have faith in God. Watch and pray to guard the affections of your heart. God will certainly keep you.  Choose to believe that He will do just as His word promises. Be quick to dismiss what you see and feel as the mere temporary things that they are. Physical realities determined by our natural senses change as fast as the wind and weather. Put your trust in the word of God instead. What God has said, that will always stand. 

Question

What are the fiery darts of the wicked?

Answer

These fiery darts are interpretive stories created in our imagination assigning meaning to what we experience in everyday life that cause only fear, uncertainty, and doubt (Scripture). First step requires light to recognize the source of all our self-talk that is contrary to the word of God (Scripture). The heart must be guarded against these fiery darts because unchecked they breed only dead flies (Scripture). 

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

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know my necessities before I ask and my ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and mercifully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.