Willingly Choose to Live a Blameless Life

1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Psalm 101:1-5 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Being clean both inside and out is pleasing to God. Don’t just sit there with crumbs on your face feeling sorry for yourself. Self-pity is pride’s ugly twin sister. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Get right with God and guard your heart. Call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with sincere repentance and turn from all that is wrong. Courageously depend on God alone and He will make you strong. Confront the problem. Fight the good fight of faith. Trust God and win!

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 13; 2 Timothy 3

Hosea 5-6; Psalm 119:145-176

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Storm Be Still

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Psalm 107:23-32 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Free time is better than money. You can spend it chasing entertainment and pleasure, or you can invest it in education and the practice of discipline. The former costs and the latter pays. The compounding interest of the choice reveals the folly or the wisdom of each choice with the passing of time. No one should be working all the time, but consider the importance, the privilege, and the benefits of discipline. Saturating the mind with the word of God and prayer are chief among disciplines. Righteousness is bestowed on us through the merits of Jesus Christ alone. The fruits of a godly lifestyle though, require our willingness to practice the disciplines (God appointed means of grace) that increase our love for God. Be faithful. Know that we are called to this. To walk in the Spirit, we must be in agreement with the Word in all things. And the Holy Spirit will guide and enable all who choose to hold on tightly to the narrow path that leads to life. We do not prevail by struggling against the Word. We prevail in this life by agreeing with the Word, conforming to it, and being transformed by it. Blessings flow from our efforts performed in willing cooperation with the Spirit.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 11-12; 2 Timothy 2

Hosea 3-4; Psalm 119:121-144

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Wonderful Works

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:4-5 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Wonderful is the knowledge that nothing is too big or too small for God. God is good. He knows all, can do all, can manage all, and has proved His love for us by sending Jesus Christ to redeem us. All things are upheld by His tender mercies. Suffering in this fallen world is a fact of life. Some indulge every appetite and later suffer for having done so. Others choose to deny self and later reap good health because of it. All suffer and go down to the grave. This is undisputable, but the suffering we choose determines how we get there and what happens after we get there. Life is lived daily at the crossroads of choice. We choose our way with a multitude of small choices made each day. Often the choice is between a path that is difficult or easy, right or wrong, for self or for God. All of us have a holy calling given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Predestined by God, yet still we must choose it. Let not the difficulty or slowness of the way deter you. Our God is trustworthy. The afflictions of this life are promised to be next to nothing compared to the riches of the life to come for all who come to God through Jesus Christ. Be of good cheer. Our ultimate salvation is nearer today than it was yesterday.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Timothy 1

Psalm 119:97-120

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

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 103:20-22 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

As wickedness increases all over the world, all who don’t know God will be increasingly filled with fear, uncertainly, and doubt. But peace shall be upon the people of God who have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. By believing the Word of God we are able to receive the gifts of grace promised to Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. Stick to the good fight of faith and expect the enemy to come at you the hardest when you feel the strongest, when you feel the weakest, and when you least expect it. Rest and contentment are among the effects of God’s gift of righteousness on this side of eternity. The gospel of salvation is Christ living within us. Faith receives the promise, and all the promises are quickened by the love of God. There is peace, quietness, and confidence in the presence of God, even in the midst of raging storms. The way out of the wilderness into the promised land is paved with thanksgiving and praise. Do the will of God by rejoicing always, praying as you go about the day’s business, and giving God thanks and praise regardless of circumstances.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 9, 1 Timothy 6

Hosea 1, Psalm 119:73-96

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Abiding Upon Your Holy Hill

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Psalm 107:20-22 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Our souls will normally be at ease when we have eaten well, when our sleep has been good, when we are pain free, and when we are surround by physical comforts. The real test comes in the absence of these things though. If we truly believe the kingdom principle that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord, then come what may our soul will dwell in the comfort of the Lord even in the mist of physical discomforts. Train yourself to never complain. The Bible calls complaining about present difficulties speaking against the Lord. To do so doesn’t please the Lord, and it only makes what is already hard even harder to bear. Our loving heavenly Father has commanded us to keep our tongue from speaking evil for our own good. Deceit, gossip, and slander all roll of the tongue way too easy unless we guard our heart against it. Keep the conscience tender and be quick to repent of such sins. A lack of a reverent fear of the Lord is a dark river filled with complaining and fault finding that leads only to spiritual death. God must do all. From the new birth to full spiritual maturity, God must do all. Our responsibility is to pray like 100% of the results depends on God, as well as to work like we are 100% responsible for our willingness to endure and do the work. For both are equally true, and to God alone belongs the results of our prayers and work. Therefore, to God belongs all the glory. Trust God, pray, work, and give thanks. He will certainly make of you all that He created you to be.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 5

Psalm 119:49-72

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Offer a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Psalm 107:20-22 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Resist the urge to rush to the finish line like a jackrabbit be it a single workout or a lifelong goal. Start slowly and build momentum little by little all the way to the finish. This is the sure way of the tortoise that wins in the end. One does not reach spiritual maturity all at once. First the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. Our heavenly Father is our husbandman giving the early and later rains to nourish the faith that brings forth His precious spiritual fruit in all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ. Great is the reward for the child who steadily holds to the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Hearing is more than the mechanical perception of sound. Hearing requires understanding what God has said, and then daring to believe His truth by conforming how we live. This is the type of hearing that increases faith. Just listening without hearing is of little profit. The ugly birds of prey are quick to snatch up the Word that falls upon the hard packed soil of the unbelieving heart. Chase those fowls away. Our God is mighty to save. We have His spoken word in the Holy Book by grace. Quicken us Lord to believe and live it.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 4

Psalm 119:25-48

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Trust the Lord

1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Psalm 125:1-3 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Sugar and artificial sweeteners have become snares in our food dragging people all over the world into the bondage of addition and sickness. The effects of sugar, just like any poison, depends largely on the dose. The more sugar consumed the fatter and sicker we become as a result. Sugar will only be restricted at the table when we realize how necessary doing so is for our good health. The world takes sugar and sin far too lightly. Sin, unlike sugar though, has no safe dose. Sin is the foolishness of a short-term pleasure that only produces suffering and eternal damnation. To ignore or hide sin only hardens the heart leaving the soul troubled in this life and unfit for the next. Sin must first be confessed before one can turn from it and receive the forgiveness found only in Christ Jesus. We must turn from sin and be born again as first principles. The blood of Jesus restores the original glory we were created to reflect. Our bodies are made up of trillions of tiny cells each designed to praise the Lord. It is a rightness that can be felt when all of these of these trillions of tiny cells obey our command to “Praise the Lord, O my soul, let all that is within me praise His holy name.”

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 3

Psalm 119:1-24

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In the Shadow of Your Wings

10 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. Psalm 57:1-3 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Great is our God. So sure is our need for His mercy, that with total confidence we can believe that He will grant the grace to meet our every need. What then can hinder His grace? You do not ask for it because you think the mere asking for mountains to move is too easy. Or you ask amiss because of wrong motives. Or you allow what you see or feel about the situation to cause you to be blown and tossed about like the doubleminded. Cast all of your burdens on the Lord. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will renew you with His strength. All things are possible with God, and His will is absolute goodness. It is better to trust in the Word of God then it is to trust in any contrary thoughts that arise from our feelings. Believe the gospel and seek to enter through the gate of righteousness. There you will learn what you are to do, which is the good and perfect will of God. Though the promises of God may seem long in coming, be of good cheer. Wait on the Lord and all that He has promised will surely come.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 2

Psalm 117-118

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.