Devotional for August 11

Joy in the Presence of the Lord

5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:5-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Start with the end. Before striving for what you think you should be doing, cultivate the character of being that is able achieve such an end. What we should be doing is our calling, but to chase after our calling without first being what it takes to get there, leads only to vexation of spirit. Character first, only then can we be trusted with great strength. The wheat is easily separated from the chaff once “what we are” has been fully realized. The wheat is any activity that produces the desired harvest, while the chaff is anything that distracts, diverts, or derails from the hope of the envisioned end. Be then do. Amen. (Revelation 21:1-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Hebrews 2:10-15; Luke 4:16-21; Colossians 3:2; Ecclesiastes 1:14; 1 John 2:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:17-25; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Acts 17:28; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Matthew 6:33; Revelation 22:11-21)