Month: November 2023

faith

Devotional for November 22

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Crowned with Your Goodness

9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing. Psalm 65:9-14 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

At what point does the yoke become easy and the burden light? At what point does one find rest for the soul? There must be a point when these things are so, or else we must call the Lord a liar. In the heart of every child of God, such a thought raises the shout “Let God be true and everything else be the liar!” Be still and know that God is! Like wrestling Jacob, only when striving ceases do we gain the victory. We work out our salvation by denying self and it’s illusion of control. Letting God be God. Only the weak are strengthened, only the broken are healed, only the burdened are comforted, and only those who are willing to fall down on their knees get lifted up by God. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of the Lord and He will lift you up spirit, soul, and body. The Scriptures are the God given manufacturer’s instructions for the maintenance and thriving of the total human being. Good health is the most basic resource that God gives us for doing the work He has called us to do. We must learn to be good stewards of this as well as all the other worldly wealth given to us by God. Not as owners for the benefit of self, but as stewards who desire to hear God say “well done good and faithful servant.”

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 17; James 4

Jonah 1; Luke 6

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

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.  

faith

Devotional for November 21

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

I Will Exalt You, O Lord

30 I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:1-5 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

To continue praying for fish without letting done the net as God has commanded, is to tempt God. Doing so only hardens the heart with unbelief, and thereby giving our enemy a foothold. Of course, this doesn’t please God. He has given us His word with many precious promises of providing a bountiful catch for all our needs. Why then are we so slow to believe and trust our God? The thing to do is to launch out into the deep at once and let down the nets in faith. Guard your heart against hidden unbelief that if left unconfessed quenches the Spirit. He who would see good days should be careful to order his life according to the Word of God. The unbelieving heart sows with invisible inner seeds of doubts, and thereby reaps difficulties under various heavy burdens, pedogeological oppression, and yokes of all kinds of addictions. God has planned from the very beginning something far better for us. Lifting up the shield of faith to extinguish all the fiery thoughts that would have you focus on what you feel and see is how the good fight of the faith is won. It is through the meekness of wisdom that God makes us strong. It is by faith in Jesus that we are healed, strengthened, and renewed. Not according to how we feel, but according to our faith in the truth as revealed in the holy Scriptures will it be done. “But I don’t feel any different” is the cry of the babe in Christ after prayer. Good feelings are sure to come, but only after faith has first let down the net. Let the wind blow and the sea roar, set your will firmly to believe. By faith walk in the light that you have been given. Believe the living God. Because He is, all will be right.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 16; James 3

Obadiah 1; Luke 5

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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 20

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord Hears

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:15-20 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Feelings come and go like the wind. Faith resides in the will, not the emotions. Attention is the key. If we focus our attention on what we are feeling, our thoughts will be brought into harmony with our feelings. We are ruled by our feelings in such cases. This is what the Bible calls walking by sight. If we shift our attention and thoughts to God instead, our feelings will harmonize with our attention and naturally fall in line. Faith is, and indeed needs to be, completely independent of feelings. Heavenly feelings are truly a great blessing from God, but we are still commanded to have faith and not to rely on our feeling regardless of whether they are supportive or unsupportive. Feelings that support faith and feelings that negate faith will both come and go. Feelings contrary to faith are always based on the brain’s subjective assessment of what is going on, and every single one of us learns sooner or later just how wrong our own interpretations can be. This is why the Bible clearly states that he who trusts in his own heart is a fool. Whereas faith is always based on the infallible truth of God. God alone is completely dependable and trustworthy. Trust in God is one of the first necessary works of faith. Trust is completely incompatible with worry just as praying in the Spirit is incompatible with walking in the flesh. Today is the acceptable year of the Lord, and our ultimate salvation is closer today than it was yesterday. Guarding the heart by setting our will is our responsibility. Have faith in God. Not because of the way we feel, but because of the truth we know about Him.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 15; James 2

Amos 9; Luke 4

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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 19

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Commands of the Lord Are Radiant

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Mind the things of the Spirit and keep the body under. All such sacrifices necessary for this are well pleasing to God and cannot be compared to the glory that will be reveled in us. Push on toward the high mark set for you in Christ Jesus. Remember it was faith that knocked the walls of Jericho down flat. Believing is the constant looking at the word of truth. Knowledge of the word of truth must inspire the doing of the word through corresponding thoughts, speech, and actions. Be quick to cast away rogue thoughts, look away from folly, and diligently keep your feet on the narrow path. Do not let unbelief rob you by giving in to the temptation to look away from the word of truth and focus on the contrary circumstances all about you instead. Those whose hearts are led astray forget that God can do all things (including raise up children to Abraham even from the stones) and give heed to what the mind believes to be true based off of the evidence of current physical realities. Thus, they forsake their own mercy by falling to exercise their faith. Elevate! By faith God will knock flat the walls that hinder you, cleanse your mind from self-destructive behaviors, and heal your infirmities. Exercise your faith in God.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 13-14; James 1

Amos 8; Luke 3

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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 18

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Take Refuge

1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psalm 2 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

It is far better to trust Almighty God than it is to rely on self with all its spiritual blind spots. Seeing is the proof of sight just as believing is the proof of faith. One may have sight, but nothing will be seen if the eyes are shut and refuse to look. Faith is likewise made ineffective if we choose to close our heart and not steadfastly believe the Holy Book God has given us. Trust God or trust yourself. To wavier between trusting God and leaning on your own understanding just doesn’t work. Such wavering faith in God will produce a wavering experience. This back and forth middle ground is sinking sand. Dare to believe! Not a little here and a little there, but believe all the time, come what testing may, and your faith will be made strong. The Word of God is trustworthy, because in God there is no shadow, He does not change, and He does not lie. Waiting on God with eager expectation for the fulfillment of His promises develops patience and endurance, so that the man of God is thoroughly equipped to do every good work. God is forever faithful. Thus, we can say with complete confidence: according to the Word of God will it be, to the glory of His name.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 9-10; Hebrews 12

Amos 6; Luke 1:39-80

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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 17

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

My Confidence

71 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5 For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.
6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. Psalm 71:1-9 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The world says it needs to see or feel it before believing it. The worldly order is always to see or feel it first, only then to believe it as fact. This is the complete opposite of the divine order though. God requires us to first believe the biblical truth as fact, then to affirm His truth by faith expressed in thoughts, speech, and deeds. The one who bases their faith on the way they feel or what they see is easily led into doubt. Faith must be able to look beyond all secondary causes. Faith comes by hearing the Word, and hearing comes only by believing the Word. Let the redeemed of the Lord rejoice. Seeing and feeling are lag indictors. Have faith in God.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 9-10; Hebrews 12

Amos 6; Luke 1:39-80

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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 16

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Meditation of My Heart

49 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. Psalm 49:1-14 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Faith is the spiritual substance through which our hearts catch on fire with the love of God. Faith comes from hearing the Word, and hearing comes from accepting the Word just as it is, the infallible truth of God. Anything that ignores or fails to acknowledge the sovereign Most High God amounts to a lying vanity. Faith affirms the Word in speech and deeds. Break up the stony ground, weed out the thorns, and fan into flame the faith of the Son of God to which you have been called. The harvest is meant to be bountiful. The quality of the crop depends on the quality of the seed used to produce it. If you just want weeds, anything the wind blows around will work. Thoughts are seeds, and the highest quality comes from thinking the thoughts of God after Him. The Word of God is forever true. By feeding on His Word constantly, the heart is prepared to do the will of God. This is a glorious promise of the gospel. Believe the gospel, know God, and live by faith. With the flesh bound man this is too high to obtain, but with God all things are possible. God has spoken, it has been made plain in the Holy Scriptures, and that settles it.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 7-8; Hebrews 11

Amos 5; Luke 1:1-38

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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

Daily Writing Prompt

The Greatest Book of All Time

Bruce Coleman1 Comment

What book are you reading right now?

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the most popular book in the history of the world with 100 million copies currently sold each year. The Holy Bible is the greatest book of all time and it is not surprising why. I have been reading it everyday for the past 16 years and the practice has totally transformed my whole life. (Joshua 1:8-9; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 12:2; Psalm 1)

faith

Devotional for November 15

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Forever True

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Psalm 33:6-11 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Elevate your mind and your whole body, soul, and spirit will follow. When you start to doubt, get frustrated, feel blue, or think negative, just whisper to yourself the word — “ELAVATE.” Weak thoughts don’t build strong bodies. Neither does entertaining faithless thoughts enable us to abide in Christ Jesus and bear the fruits of the Spirit. You cannot stop the birds from swooping down to steal your sacrifice of praise, but you can chase them away. Elevate your mind and your spirit and your body will follow. The beginning of the assurance of faith is a matter of fact type of knowing God just the same as you know any other person. We come to know those we are close to by how they talk, how they walk, how they think, what they do, and what they are likely not to do. God has given us the Holy Bible so that we may come to the same kind of personal knowledge of Him. The Old Testament Law and the Prophets were the beginning of the progressive revelation of who God is, and the full revelation of what God is like is revealed in Jesus Christ. Christ is revealed to us in the four gospels. To know Christ is to know God. To know God is to love Him. Let us elevate. He who promised that we will find Him when we seek Him with our whole heart is faithful and true. 

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 5-6; Hebrews 10

Amos 4; Psalm 148-150

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

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 14

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Proclaim the Greatness of Our God

5 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy. Psalm 99:5-9 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The fact that we love God only because He first loved us is one of the grand mysteries of the gospel. Better to humbly accept it rather than try to explain it. Today is a good day to reset your gratitude meter to full. Green will always be made a little greener, and blue always a little bluer, with true appreciation. This too is an undeserved gift from God. 

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 3-4; Hebrews 9

Amos 3; Psalm 146-147

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.