Devotional for August 16

He Has Declared His Word

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 147:12-21 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The masses in the mainstream are like obstinate children continuously feeding on poison, making them sicker and sickerm all the while refusing the cure. Pride makes us easy prey for all kinds of deception. The deceitfulness of riches seduces and destroys many who idolize the power of the money. More money is NOT the answer. Money is a bandage at best that only covers surface wounds and distracts the mind from pain. It does nothing to heal the real problem of unrighteousness in soul. For just such a reason, Christ came to save us from our bondage to sin. Throw off the worldly wisdom that refuses to give God the glory due His name. Humble yourself and cry out for the blessing of hunger and thirst for righteousness. Depend on the Lord to make you strong and courageous. Set your mind and affections on the things above and all these worldly things currently set against you, whatsoever they may be, will certainly pass away. Be full of hope and good cheer, because the day of our ultimate salvation is closer today than it was yesterday. 

Question

How can we cast our cares upon the Lord?

Answer

Know that God works all things together for good for those who love Him (Scripture). Be specific in prayer and direct your thoughts (Scripture). Go to work and demonstrate your faith in God by trusting Him to bring about the desired outcome (Scripture). Doubts and feelings to test your faith are sure to come (Scripture). Take them all back to the Lord by acknowledging that all outcomes depend on God alone (Scripture). Peace in the eye of every storm is keeping the mind fixed on God (Scripture).

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

Grant to me, Lord. I pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that I, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.