Devotional for September 13

Recount the Praiseworthy Deeds of the Lord

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11 And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. Psalm 78:1-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Only the humble heart can be exalted. The heart lifted up in pride can only be casted down. Don’t despise small beginnings. Victory starts with planning and preparation long before the battle begins. Better to have no opportunity, than it is to have an opportunity and not be ready for it. Don’t shrink away from the necessary challenges of life God puts before you. For without being subject to high temperature and pressure, every diamond remains just a lump of carbon. God will never allow you to suffer more than you can bare. Never will He leave you and never will He forsake you. We are made strong to glorify God, not to glorify self. Blessed are the doers of the Word. Be filled with hope and faith in God. Live continually in love, joy, and peace through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Ask and know that God is more willing to give this most precious gift than we are willing to receive Him. 

Question

How close is God to us?

Answer

God is not far from every one of us (Scripture). It’s just that like Adam we vainly chose to hide behind the bushes of this physical world (Scripture). God sent His only Begotten Son to bridge the gap (Scripture). Now there is only one degree of separation between God and us (Scripture). That tiny one degree that remains requires our response to the love of God by willingly inclining our heart toward God (Scripture). The heart is the gaze of the soul (Scripture). Just as the whole body follows where the eyes lead, so too does the soul follow that which the heart is inclined towards (Scripture). Draw near to God and He will draw near to you, is both a command and a promise (Scripture).

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

Grant me, O Lord, to trust in you with all my heart; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.