On Guard
1 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. Psalm 141:1-5 (KJV)
The Morning Exhortation
No champion is crowned by avoiding struggle. It takes heat and cold to temper steel. Too much luxury and ease are precursors to weakness. To fight for the sake of fighting is foolishness. To refuse to fight when a fight is called for is tragic. Victory favors the bold, but stripes are reserved for fools. When, why, and how we fight are far more important than winning every battle. Always fight the good fight, and even if you don’t win, you will never lose. (Ezekiel 37:1-14; Hebrews 4:12, 11:6; 2 Timothy 2:14-16; 2 Timothy 2:1-7; Proverbs 27:17; 1 Corinthians 9:23-27; Proverbs 19:29, 28:1; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Timothy 6:12; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Revelation 3:11-13, 22:20-21)
Today’s Bible Reading
Leviticus 8; Psalms 9
Proverbs 23; 1 Thessalonians 2
The Prayer Appointed for This Week
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give me this bread, that he may live in me, and I in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer
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