Devotional for August 30

Wait Upon the Lord 

34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Psalm 37:34-42 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Trust God and breathe faith into all circumstances. The proving ground necessary for learning to stand firm in faith happens when your back is against the wall, and you see no way forward; when to your front is a fence, and you see no way over it; when on your left is a steep cliff, and you can’t see the bottom below it; when on your right is a hard place, and it seems to be closing in on you; such is the time, such is the opportune time to choose to trust God. Listen and do not just see. The storms of affliction serve to drive us to the only safe harbor, which is God. Just remember to be watchful during prosperous time as well. Prosperity may be an even harder cross to bear than affliction. Prosperity tends to draw the heart’s affections away from the unseen eternal things to dwell on the pleasurable material things of this visible world, which are only temporary at best. The heart must be properly prepared for prosperity and comfort, least they leave us shipwrecked upon the jagged rocks below the gently flowing waters. Be on guard in both good times and bad in order to keep your heart in the love of God always.   

Question

Should we go to God for small things?

Answer

Consider that to the infinite God all things are small (Scripture). Things are only big or small to us finite creatures (Scripture). God has proved His love for us by sending His only begotten Son to die for us (Scripture). Therefore, prayer and thanksgiving are appropriate for all things big and small (Scripture). The easiest place to find God is in the mundane everyday things of life (Scripture).

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

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all people, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.