Devotional for January 24

Your Servant, Lord, Loves Your Word

137 You are righteous, Lord,
    and your laws are right.
138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous;
    they are fully trustworthy.
139 My zeal wears me out,
    for my enemies ignore your words.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
    and your servant loves them.
141 Though I am lowly and despised,
    I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is everlasting
    and your law is true.
143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,
    but your commands give me delight.
144 Your statutes are always righteous;
    give me understanding that I may live. Psalm 119:137-144 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Adversity and fatigue are the great tests of our faith. It is easy to have faith in God when all is going well, but do you still believe you have God’s favor when the circumstances of life become cloudy, dark, and tossed about by contrary winds? The storms of this life are meant to drive us deeper into the only safe harbor, which is Jesus Christ. Physical reality is loud and always in our face. The temptations we must overcome are to walk by sight, trust in own limited understanding, and depend on our own strength. To be strong in faith, we must learn to walk in the Spirit, trusting in God, and choose our thoughts and actions based on conformity to the Word of God regardless of any feelings that arise from our current circumstances. The Word of God is Truth. This is our Rock. On Christ Jesus we can always depend, and now is the only acceptable time to do it. Sing songs of praise when you are happy, and pray until every cloud is chased away when you’re not.

Today’s Bible Reading

Genesis 25; Matthew 24

Esther 1; Acts 24

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer