Devotional for September 5

Praise God for His Everlasting Mercy

24 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 118:25-29 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Stop looking for microwave-like shortcuts and big ole easy buttons in life. The same rule applies to all of us. Choose the hard right over the easy wrong, because you shall reap what you have sown. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. These are great truths that need to be accepted by faith for all who believe in Christ Jesus. So, what is keeping you from believing the truth? If the unbelievers who practice mind-over-matter based merely on the elementary principles of this world can achieve much, how much more should the saints achieve who practice faith based on the infallible Word of God? Believe the gospel and the Lord will strengthen your heart. Believe, and the God of all grace be with you.

Question

What is faith?

Answer

Faith is a shield, faith is now, faith is a spiritual substance, and faith is the putting forth the hand to the plow (Scripture).  Better not to go beyond these biblical descriptions into water that is too deep for our finite minds to swim and too high for the tiny wings of our understanding to reach unassisted (Scripture). Faith comes from the knowledge of God made available to all by the gospel of truth written in the Holy Bible (Scripture). To know God is to trust God, and to trust God makes strong the assurance of faith that comes through testing (Scripture). Blessed are those who remember, practice, and live the gospel (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.