Devotional for August 5

God Gives Power and Strength to His People

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. Psalm 68:19-23; 32-35 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The world is full of vanity and lies. Let us turn from them and turn toward God with our whole heart. You have to stand firm in faith long enough to get to a point where the narrow way that leads to eternal life becomes so enjoyable that it eliminates the desire for all that is contrary. The love of God compels us to do this from within, and not just from external motive of outward conformity to the rules. All who hold fast to faith come to the place where there is an eagerness to sacrifice lesser things for greater things. We gladly give up the old life trapped in sin for the much greater new life lived in the freedom purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. Faith in God is required from beginning to end. God is more willing to give than we are to receive. God is willing to give more abundantly than we can ask or think. Our Lord Jesus Christ has provided us with the ability to meet the conditions, which is to take His yoke upon us so that we can learn from Him. We can be sure that if we chose it, He will fulfill His promise to lead us into all righteousness. Praise and glory be to God for His love and faithfulness, which endures forever.

Question

Where does our faith come from?

Answer

Faith is a gift from God (Scripture). All have faith (Scripture), but not all have faith in God (Scripture). Faith is to humans what instincts are to animals (Scripture). The soul is restless according to the saints of old (Scripture), until it comes to rest in God by faith (Scripture). What God said to Gideon (Scripture), He says to all: “Go in the faith you have and you shall reap in due time” (Scripture).

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

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.