Devotional for February 9

Stand in Awe

8 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8 (KJV) (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Don’t be afraid to work harder than others. Don’t be overly concerned if you have to wait longer than most for the harvest from your labor. How far, how high, and when all pale in comparison to the assurance of faith. The assurance of faith comes only through prayer. The saying “pray until you pray” essentially means the only way to learn how to pray is by doing it. The one who is too busy to pray is like the man in such a hurry that he thinks he doesn’t have time to stop for fuel when his car is low on gas. Such a one should not be surprised when he is left stranded near the side of the narrow way. Prayer is the last resort for the scoundrel. Therefore, it is far better to let prayer be our first choice. Then can we be sure as we head out that our spiritual tanks are always full of gas.

Today’s Bible Reading

Genesis 42; Mark 12

Job 8; Romans 12

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Set me free, O God, from the bondage of my sins, and give me the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to me in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  The Book of Common Prayer