Month: April 2024

faith

Devotional for April 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Trust God

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Psalm 33:18-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Willingly suffer the soreness that comes from time to time from lifting weights and working out. By such the body is hardened and the mind is strengthened. We must also be willing to suffer the testing of our faith to strengthen us spiritually. What God has worked in, we are to work out. Salvation through Jesus Christ releases us from bondage to sin and gives us the power to live for God. The freedom that comes from our salvation is not to be used as license to continue to practice those things that lead only to death though. Rather, we are to make the fear of the Lord our rule, which is to love truth and hate every false way. This is a safeguard as we learn to live in the righteousness purchased for us by Jesus Christ. Testing and cleaning up after the ox is not fun. The maxim “no pain, no gain” applies to both. It is by testing we are made strong. (Matthew 11:28-30; Proverbs 14:4; John 15:14-16; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Peter 2:1-5; Romans 6:11-14; 1 Peter 4:12-13; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 1:15-23; Psalm 18:29-35; Revelation 22:21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 6; Psalms 5-6

Proverbs 21; Colossians 4

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

faith

Devotional for April 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Forever Faithful is the Lord

1 O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 117 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Distance to the destination may be far. Still, joyfulness is a mode of travel and not to be delayed until reaching the destination. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, then will the joy of the Lord become your strength every step of the way. Elijah was a man just like us is a remarkable statement in the Scriptures considering how mightily he was used by God. Elijah is a shining testament to wholehearted devotion to God and the effectiveness of prayer. With these two swords there will be boundless joy in good times as well as joy in adversity, joy in suffering, and joy in difficulties. There is always joy in the presence of the Lord. Enter into His courts with praise and thanksgiving. Especially do this when times are tough. So, let us submit our understanding to the truth of God, submit our will to follow His precepts, and submit our affections to be more ready to pursue good rather than to experience sinful pleasures that only hinder His grace working within us. Submit to God and resist the inner temptations to revive the ways of the sinful nature in which we used to walk before we came to know Christ. To be who we are, is to seek to be now who we will be in heaven. (1 Kings 18:21-39; James 5:13-18; Colossians 3:15-17; Romans 8:28; Psalm 100:4, 16:7-11; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Luke 22:38)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 5; Psalms 3-4

Proverbs 20; Colossians 3

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

faith

Devotional for April 1

Bruce Coleman2 Comments

The Soul Yearns

1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Psalm 84:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Some form of resistance training is essential to maintain strength as we get older, and the fountain of youth is a spirit filled with a child-like faith in God. How was it that Daniel was found ten times better than everyone else? It wasn’t his training as we are told in the Scriptures that it was the same as everyone else. It was the water and vegetables, right? The real secret of Daniel being ten times better came from his willingness to deny the flesh and nourish the soul by glorifying God in every thought, word, and deed. This is what it means to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. We may not be able to be ten times better like Daniel, but we can certainly be blessed like Daniel if we are willing to love God like Daniel. (Matthew 18:1-4; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 John 5:4; Hebrews 11:6; Daniel 6:10-28; Proverbs 16:13-20; Romans 12:1-2; Mark 12:30; Proverbs 3:5-8; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 4; Psalms 1-2

Proverbs 19; Colossians 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