Devotional for May 1

Yearning For God

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:1-3, 9-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Invisible chains are the hardest chains of all to break. True freedom is the ability to say “no” to what is wrong and to say “yes” to what is right. Something is right or wrong depending on its relationship to the truth. Regardless of what some would have us believe, we are not capable of determining truth without some unchangeable standard. Thank God for His word. The Holy Bible is the unchanging truth of God consisting of three pillars: facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and promises to be enjoyed. It took nothing less than the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross to free us to do these three things. Fee at last, free at last, receive the gospel and be free at last! (Romans 1:16-32; Isaiah 50:10-11; Matthew 12:38-45; John 10:8-10; John 8:31-32; Matthew 16:24-25; Romans 6:9-23; Galatians 6:14; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Timothy 6:3-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 8; Psalms 44

Song of Solomon 6; Hebrews 6

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

I thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered me from the dominion of sin and death and brought me into the kingdom of your Son; and I pray that, as by his death he has recalled me to life, so by his love he may raise me to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer