Devotional for August 22

God Is Our Fortress 

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Spiritual reality is formed by the Word of God and not by what we feel, see, or think is the truth. One of the chief balance points of the Scriptures is that God is absolutely sovereign and that we are free to choose. Freedom of choice makes us responsible for choosing what is good and accountable to God after choosing. It is sometimes difficult for us to know we are sleeping until after we have woken up. The same can be said when living in bondage to sin. We have been called to be awake and sober. By faith do we come to know that the God of hope is love, faithful, trustworthy, holy, and true. Be still and remember God. Rest in the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no glory in seeking glory for self. May all we do glorify Him.

Question

What are feelings?

Answer

Just as the body senses heat and cold, so feelings are the senses of the soul (Scripture). While being hot or cold is almost always easy to regulate physically, feelings are totally unreliable as they can come and go in a blink of the eye or with a single change of thought (Scripture). Feelings are like a broken reed that pierces the hand that leans on them (Scripture). To sometimes feel good and to sometimes feel bad is completely normal (Scripture). Be willing to suffer the temptations of ill feelings and still stand firm in faith (Scripture).

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

Almighty God, who has given your only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and an example by his godly life: For the sake of your Son,  I most thankfully receive your forgiveness of all my offenses; and grant me the grace to serve you in newness of life to the glory of your Name; through the same your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.