They Will Still Be Praising Thee

84 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.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. Psalm 84 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

You get knocked down, you get back up. Circumstances are temporary. A life of 120 years is a mere grain of sand on the beach of eternity. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be well prepared for both this life and eternity. Love is everlasting. Whether you ultimately thrive and bloom, or shrivel and die, depends greatly on the condition of your soul. Accept the spiritual curriculum ordained by the divine providence of God to fit you for greater works. The fit are willing to live by faith while the unfit live by what they see. The fit meditate on the word of God so that they are careful to do all that is written, while the unfit must be held in by bit and bridle like a horse or mule. The fit seek to be guided by the eye of God in all things, while the unfit are self-willed, seeking to please self in all things. The fit are willing to wait on the Lord until they are clothed with power from above, while the unfit rush ahead trying do God’s work in their own strength. The fit wholeheartedly do all the will of God, while the unfit will do as Saul and spare what should have been destroyed. The fit will say like Job, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15), while the unfit turn back from following the Lord when the going gets tough. Will to be fit for the Lord and the kingdom of heaven. 

Question

How often do you need to read and mediate on the word of God?

Answer

How often do you need to eat? How often do you need to breathe? As essential as food and air are to the physical body (Matthew 4:1-4; John 6:63; Hebrews 2:1), so is the word of God to the soul that wills to know God (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrew 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 1). 

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

His Mercy Endures Forever

136 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1-9, 25-26 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Tough times come to all, but that’s okay. Make the will of God your delight and the joy of the Lord will be your strength. Believe the gospel. Nothing is able to take away your joy if you only believe. Getting started is usually not fun. Everything requires effort and seems hard in the beginning. No way around this ladies and gentlemen. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Endure the purifying process on the straight path to the narrow gate, wait on the Lord, and God shall bring forth your righteousness shining brighter and brighter until the full light of the noon day. Trust the Lord. The power that spread out the stars like a curtain, the power that brought forth Jesus Christ up from the grave, that same power is at work in each of us who believe in Him.

Question

The mercy of God is available to all who chose His way, but what do you will mercy to do for you?

Answer

This question is not a play on words. To wish for a thing is lighter than a feather and vanishes with the slightest of winds (Psalm 78:9). To want something is a weak motivation that fails when met with adversity (Proverbs 24:10). To will a thing on the other hand (John 17:24-26), puts the whole mind, body, soul, and spirit behind the intention (Mark 10:46-52). The sure mercies of David await all with the audacity to persistently trust in the Lord (Isaiah 55:3; Luke 11:1-13; Ephesians 3:14-21).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

In His Holy Name We Put Our Trust

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

Thoughts are the roots and feelings are the fruit. Neither are faith and physical fitness mutually exclusive throughout the days of our pilgrimage here on earth. If the body were like a train, physical fitness would provide the basic maintenance, and faith would be the wheels that keep the train on the right track. Faith is required from beginning to end, and time will only leave the body weak without physical fitness. Let all be strengthen by each. Be quick to cast down the evil thoughts of an unbelieving heart that concur with the accusations of the devil. Don’t entertain such thoughts or they will hinder the effective communication of your faith. This trap of the tempter is designed to side track you from the straight and narrow way. Any thoughts that cause you to doubt the truth of any of God’s promises are NOT inspired by the one who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Therefore, guard the heart against unbelief. The desire for holiness within as well as without isn’t a nicety, it’s an absolute necessity. The better the train of thought, the better the fruit.

Question

Why do we need to pray for patience?

Answer

Because every good thing takes time. To make a cake you have to collect the proper ingredients. Then mix them together just right. Then place them in a pan and preheat the oven for baking. There’s no rushing the baking, you just have to wait. Think about how many things God had to bring together to place you where you are right now having known each of us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Try to wrap you head around that one and stand in awe of the Almighty God. Having chosen you (John 15:16), He then had to wait for you to come to your senses and choose Him (Philemon 1:14; Romans 2:4). The promises of all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus are sure (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3-15). Be patience therefore (James 5:7), it is God who works in you to will and do according to His goodness (Philippians 2:13; Philemon 1:6). Wait on the Lord, knowing that He will bring everything that concerns you to perfection at just the proper time (Psalm 138:8; 92:1-2).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

The Lord Will Bless Both Small and Great Who Trust Him

115 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
11 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. Psalm 115:1-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Blessed is the child that knows what the mercy of God must do for him or her. The curse of this fallen world has left us weak in the flesh, with depravity of soul, and alienated from God in spirit. Recognize the importance of the physical body to the spiritual life. The body is meant to be an instrument of righteousness rather than a facilitator of sin. Once you begin the journey to spiritual and physical fitness, you must never look back with desire for your old unhealthy ways. Athletic success is possible only with devotion to the sport being pursued. How much more deserving of whole-hearted devotion should be our pursuit of God? There really is no need to worry about anything if you will only believe the gospel.

Question

How important is it to trust the Lord?

Answer

Trust is the vital connection between belief and faith. Just as a person who can read, but doesn’t, is no better off than the person who can’t read, to believe without trust is no different than unbelief (Matthew 17:19-20). If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (James 2:19), you must step up to trust Him (Romans 10:11) if you would be loosed from your unbelief (Luke 6:46-49; Mark 9:23-24; John 20:27-29; Luke 13:10-13; Jeremiah 17:7-8).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

He Has Made the Whole World

93 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. Psalm 93 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

If you believe a sore neck is too high of a price to pay to develop your neck muscles, you might as well have an eraser on your head. We miss the abundant life promised by Christ when we allow ourselves to be convinced that we need God and ________ . It doesn’t matter what you fill in the blank with, it will be like a ball and chain that keeps you from the fullness of God in Christ Jesus. God alone is our exceeding sufficient provision and reward. Better to endure hardness as good soldier of Jesus Christ than it is to feast, drink, and chase after all that is shiny and best in this life. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. All else is vanity says the preacher, and count other things as dung compared to coming to the knowledge of God says the apostle. 

Question

What have time and judgement to do with life?

Answer

Everything (Ecclesiastes 8:5). Past, present, and future are only this side of eternity (Psalm 90:1-4). Past, present, and future contain all our days in this life (Psalm 90:12). The present, the now, is the only time we can make amends for the past, effect the conditions for the future, and prepare for eternity (Luke 19:8-9).  Faith, hope, and love are the three things that abide in this life (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love, being the greatest of these three, also abides in eternity. After this life, eternity will bring one of two things: eternal bliss or eternal misery (Matthew 25:1-13). Judgement will end in one of these and there is nothing in between (Matthew 25:31-46). The wise will take these things to heart (Proverbs 4:26-27). Consider well how you live now, because it will determine how you spend eternity (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; Psalm 95:6-11; Titus 2:11-14).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

Tremble at the Presence of the Lord

114 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 114 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

One of the beauties of the Gospel is that we can come just as we are, but we are not to stay that way. The spiritual re-birth makes it possible for all things to be new. This is the Lord’s doing. No longer slaves to our own sinful desires or caught up in the wicked pursuits of world. We have been freed so that we can love the Lord our God with all our heart and serve Him only. We only need to be willing to put away our foolish ways and be conformed to the truth of God in Christ Jesus. Sincerely ask God for this blessing. Remember He has promised if you believe when you ask it will be done for you. His word is a guarantee that never fails. Once you have given your all to God, the temptation to take back control of any part of your life does not come from God. Intending form the heart to live your life devoted to God is a spiritual sacrifice made acceptable through Jesus Christ. Know that trials that bring thoughts of doubt, worry, and fear are but evil birds of prey swooping down to steal the offered sacrifice. Hold fast to faith and you will chase them away. When they return, be prepared to chase them away again and again. This is the victory that overcomes the world…our faith in God.

Question

How do we reach a higher more spiritual life?

Answer

By letting go of anything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God (Ecclesiastes 8:1-8; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:6-11; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 2 Timothy 4:6-18)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

Abundance Even in Days of Famine

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. Psalm 37:10-19 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Hardship and failure are the master teachers of the curriculum of practical life experience 101. Blessed is the man who has come to know his own limitations. Where are the saints who will stand as the hedge to slow the coming of the end so that all the elect may be gathered into the kingdom of the Lord? Oh Lord, turn us again and slow the tide of wickedness in this world that threatens to consume us all. For God has commanded the blessing on all who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, but the prideful who don’t know Christ shall be like the chaff that the wind blows away. Pride is a robber and a thief attempting to steal the glory that rightfully belongs to God alone. It takes humility to acknowledge your own weakness. Humble yourself before the Lord and learn to depend on God alone. Rely on your own strength and that is all you will have. Far better to deny self, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus in doing the will of God. By faith rely on the grace of God, and out of your weakness God will make you strong for the harvest.

Question

Why does God allow pain and suffering?

Answer

Pain and suffering are teachers like no other (Psalm 119:71; 2 Timothy 3:12-17). It may be impossible to learn our own insufficiency (Ecclesiastes 7:11-14; Psalm 10:3-4) and our need for the Savior in any other way (Psalm 31:19-24). 

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

Let All the Earth Fear the Lord

13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
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. Psalm 33:13-19 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

If you only workout when you feel like it, your workouts won’t be consistent enough for year to year improvement (Mark 4:26-32; Luke 9:61-62; Matthew 9:38). Wisdom takes counsel of faith, not of feelings (Proverbs 29:12; Jonah 2:8). Forgiving those who have hurt you can be harder to endure than even the toughest of workouts (Matthew 18:21-35). It is futile to try to forgive a serious wrong done to you in your own strength (Galatians 3:3-9). Turn to our Lord, who has commandment us to forgive, and He will grant you the change of heart you need (1 John 1:9; Psalm 28:6-9, 29:11). He will always answer the prayer that sincerely seeks to obey His will as written in His word (Matthew 12:20; Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11). Just as you want the Lord to remember his mercy and not your sins, discipline your own thoughts about whomever has hurt you (Isaiah 55:7). Let go of the anger and the pain (1 Peter 5:7). Remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19-20). Trusting in the Lord is a healing balm that never fails (2 Chronicles 7:14). If you have sincerely asked the Lord to enable you to forgive an offender from your heart, and persist in the exercise of giving them forgiveness in your thoughts, you will be able to let the hurt go (Philippians 2:13). Do this for your sake, especially when the offender is undeserving of forgiveness (Luke 6:32-36). The burden will be released and the wrong will lose its sting (Matthew 11:28-30).  

Question

How do we forgive others and please the God?

Answer

I am convince there is but one way to please God in all our ways (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), and that is by having faith in God (Mark 11:23-24) according to knowledge of the truth (John 17:17; Luke 10:42; Mark 11:22; Hebrews 11:6, 10:38; Romans 1:17; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:36-40).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer

The Eyes of the Lord areUpon Us

13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
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 33:13-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The whole world has become like Sodom and Gomorrah in chasing after vain pleasure and ignoring God (Genesis 19:4-11, 14-16, 24-26). Let the saints be set to prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-8). Workout and eat for strength, but know it is God who grants the growth (Hebrews 13:9). Therefore, to God belongs the glory (Ecclesiastes 3:10-15). It takes wisdom to understand that even our lifting and our eating is made possible only by the grace of God (Psalm 104:14-15, 18:28-36). Reverence and awe is due the God of our salvation (Isaiah 53:1; Exodus 15:11-21). Those who are far from our Lord Jesus Christ will perish (Matthew 7:21-23), but the love of God is the door of grace opened to those who love Him (John 10:27-28).

Question

What hinders us from hearing the voice of the Lord?

Answer

Three things hinder the promise/command in verse 27 above:

1. Fear of Man: “My sheep hear my voice” — what will people say if this becomes true of me? Such fear is a hidden cloak for selfish pride (John 5:44). Repent (1 John 1:9), accept your weakness, affirm your reliance on the Lord, and He will make you strong  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:7). Just because some people who hear voices are clinically crazy, doesn’t mean that we should shy away from such a life changing opportunity to know our Lord (Luke 11:11-13).
2. Incomplete faith: “I know them” – for two people to get to know each other, the two must spend time together (John 14:9). To say you know someone, means that you can describe his or her character, that you know their likes and dislikes, that you can reasonability predict what they will and will not do. God has given us His golden record by which we may come to know Him in the same way. It’s called the Holy Bible (2 Peter 1:16-21). Become like a child who completely trusts his loving parent (Matthew 18:1-4), and ask (Luke 11:9-10).
3. Incomplete sanctification: “they follow me” – the will of the Father and obedience to Christ are one and the same (John 14:21). Faith is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1-3) and willing obedience to God is evidence of our love for Him (John 14:22-24; Hebrews 13:12-14, 20-25).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. from the Book of Common Prayer