Devotional for August 17

Bless His Holy Name

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 103:1-5, 19-23 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Prayer is the privilege of every child of the living God from who all blessings flow. Prayer is the respiration of the soul, and the vitalizer of the spirit. Prayer is like weight training for the inner man. To gain membership in the big guns club, or the six pack abs fraternity, requires you to pay your dues. You can’t use credit for the payment, and cash on delivery isn’t accepted. You pay with hard work in advance and get your membership card by regular snail mail. Let prayer be your first priority of work, as the only the scoundrel considers prayer when all else has failed. Before asking for physical blessings, ask for that which is more essential: To have your conscience cleansed so as to know right from wrong; to have your affections transformed so that you desire what is good and abhor what is sinful; and to have your will purified so that you do what is pleasing to the Lord and turn from all that is not. If we ask for such things, we can be confident that God will grant them. These blessings are promised in the holy Scriptures and are at the heart of the life to which we are called to in Christ Jesus. Pray therefore, be lavish with your praise and hearty with your thanksgiving. Worthy is our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings!

Question

Why does faith require action?

Answer

Faith is like a bobsled race (Scripture). We’re not the driver (Scripture), our job is to get the sled moving, jump in, sit still and hold on to the end (Scripture). Faith requires prayer with corresponding action just as the bobsled requires pushing with coordinated running to get it moving (Scripture). Only a moving bobsled can be steered to victory (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.