Happiness Starts Here

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Psalm 34:10-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Hope looks forward to something that is expected to happen sometime in the future. While faith receives now, and knows that the confirmation of the physical senses will be manifested at the proper time. Seeing physical evidence before believing that God has granted what is asked for in prayer requires no faith at all. Without faith, hope has no anchor. Faith in self, money, or any other created thing is misplaced, like anchoring the foundation of your house on unstable sand. The commandment of the Lord has made it clear that we are to have faith in God, the maker of heaven and earth from whom all blessings flow. God is able and willing to bestow His grace upon all His children. Ask Him for the grace you need. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The record God has given us in the Holy Scriptures is absolute infallible truth. Believe the gospel. Our earnest prayer to the Father, in the name of the Son, through the Holy Spirit is the special privilege of all those redeemed by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. God alone is the Rock on which we can always depend.

Question

How is faith increased?

Answer

Stop going to the Bible to decide if the Scriptures are true or not (Scripture). Faith comes by accepting the Word as truth, and then acting accordingly (Scripture). Muscles and faith both become stronger only after they are exercised (Scripture). It is easy to overload a barbell with way more weight than you are able to lift safely, but with the Comforter as your personal trainer, He will not allow you to be tested beyond what you are able to handle (Scripture). Faith grows to match the level of our trust in God (Scripture). When you can say with complete confidence like Job, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” so will your faith be (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O Lord, receive the prayers of your servant who calls upon you, and grant that I may know and understand what things I ought to do, and that I also may have the grace and power to faithfully accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

My Lips Will Sing with Joy

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt. Psalm 71:21-24 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

No one ever has enough money, and everybody likes firm butts and flat guts. Such waters are so shallow however, that you will only be left thirster after have drunk your fill of them. Life only makes sense when you place God above all else in His rightful place on the throne of your heart. Drink deeply of this truth and allow the understanding that God alone is worthy of all worship and praise to nourish your soul. There is a way to a higher life set before us, and that way is deeper down into a life given up to Christ Jesus.

Question

Why do we need to learn to think like Christ?

Answer

Youth is wasted on the young who refuse to turn from thinking like the worldly wise (Scripture). We are stewards of the grace and truth given to us in by Christ Jesus (Scripture). To mature into the full measure of Christ, we must first learn to think like Christ (Scripture). We grieve the Spirit by resisting His equipping of our mind to guard our heart (Scripture). The heart consists of the part that thinks, the part that feels, and the part that wills (Scripture). We have been given the mind of Christ, , the desire of Christ, and the peace of Christ so that we may shine as guiding lights in this fallen world (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O Lord, receive the prayers of your servant who calls upon you, and grant that I may know and understand what things I ought to do, and that I also may have the grace and power to faithfully accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Precious Is the Steadfast Love of the Lord

5 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Psalm 36:5-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Pray like everything depends on God, and work like everything depends on you. Self-effort for a Christian is an oxymoron like a free rental. Absolutely everything depends on God, the only true sovereign. And absolutely everything depends on our response to the grace of God, as moral agents given free will. These are not contradictory statements. They are merely opposite sides of the same profound truth. Knowledge and Will are the Wonder Twins that activate Faith. Faith begins with the knowledge of God that comes from reading and hearing His Word. Both the knowledge of God’s ability and His good will are required to produce a mature faith. God has given us such precious promises and we only need to believe that He will fulfill them. The Holy Bible is full of the countless testimonies of how God has fulfill all of His promises over thousands of years. There is sufficient reason to trust God on the bases of His past performance alone, even though His blessings may sometimes be delayed. So much better than an economic stimulus package from the government, this is a guaranteed life stimulus package from God Almighty! The promises of God are much surer than any human enterprise will ever be. All who repent and come to Christ Jesus are redeemed, all are forgiven in Christ, all are saved by Christ, all are healed by Christ, all are adopted in Christ, and all are given the Holy Spirit in Christ.

Question

What is a proper response to the grace of God?

Answer

Faith in God is the only proper response to grace of God (Scripture). Self is chief among those who would rob and steal glory due to God alone (Scripture). Thus, denying self is essential if we are to run the race set before us (Scripture). The testing of your faith will cause it to grow stronger (Scripture). It has been said by those of old that prayer will end sinning, or sinning will end prayer (Scripture). Temptations and trials are permitted by God in order to mature your faith and increase the fruit of the Spirit in your life to the benefit of this perishing world (Scripture). The choice is yours (Scripture). Believe the gospel, go to our Great Physician, and He will heal all impotent men and women (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O Lord, receive the prayers of your servant who calls upon you, and grant that I may know and understand what things I ought to do, and that I also may have the grace and power to faithfully accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lead Me, Lord, In Your Righteousness

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalm 5:4-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Everything depends on our faith. Believe the Word of God. Strengthen the body with exercise. Renew the mind daily with the Word of God. Let faith in God be non-negotiable, and humbly hold on to the truth to the very end. The Word of God is truth and it will never fail. Know beyond merely understanding that there is a placed prepared for you at the table of the wedding feast of the Lamb. This life is but a preparation for the next. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and trust God to lead you to that paradise He has prepared for you. 

Question

What is righteousness?

Answer

Righteousness requires both knowledge of the truth and right actions based on that knowledge (reference). Reject the popular agenda of the rebellious who proclaim everyone has the right to determine what is right and wrong for ourselves (reference). Approach the President of the United States in the wrong way and may be killed (reference). It is even more important that we approach the King of kings and Lord of lords correctly (reference). Wisdom is the way of righteousness (reference).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O Lord, receive the prayers of your servant who calls upon you, and grant that I may know and understand what things I ought to do, and that I also may have the grace and power to faithfully accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

My Help Comes From the Lord

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It is not the one who knows the most, who studies everything inside and out, that reaches the highest levels. Knowing more and studying more are good things, but excellence takes something more still. It is only the one who knows enough, who has studied enough, and then does what he or she knows that reaches their best. So too must faith in God be exercised according to our understanding of the written word. It is only by living in obedience to the light that we have already received that the heart is prepared to be given more. For those who can accept it, the Jezebel of old is the scientific worldview of our modern day. It is the will of God for all believers to obtain a fullness in Christ Jesus. He knows exactly what He has called us to do. Therefore, trust Him completely and do the work of God. We must make the first move in faith, and then God answers our prayers with the moving of mountains big and small.

Question

What is the one thing needful?

Answer

When we can’t breathe, all we need is air (link). When we are hungry, we need food (link). When we are thirsty, we need water (link). Few things are needed for life, and the one need above all others is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (link). What He wants is that we have faith (link). Love is the spiritual equivalent of air, faith like food, and hope like drink (link). Blessed are they who come to Christ to satisfy the hunger and thirst for righteousness (link). God is faithful and He has made the way simple and plain (link).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you have taught me to keep all your commandments by loving you and my neighbor: Grant me the grace of your Holy Spirit, that I may be devoted to you with my whole heart, and united to others with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God Is Our Only Dependable Refuge 

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. Psalm 73:21-28 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The two greatest dangers in the gym are mirrors and yoga pants. You must look at your reflection in the mirror as does a steward who knows he is working for the glory of the Lord. God is the one who enables us to work, and from Him alone comes the growth. The new man created in Christ Jesus correctly perceives that we are stewards, and rejects the claim of ownership held by the old man. The new man praises God while the old uncrucified man is easily pumped up with his muscles by a corresponding degree of pride. And as for the yoga pants that have found their way out of the gym and on to every street corner these days, you must be quick to look away before even the tiniest spark of lust is kindled in your heart. Deny your eyes a second taste, and train yourself not turn to check her form after she passes. Don’t take this lightly. Just as eating too much sugar causes tooth decay, unchecked eye candy will surely cause rot in the soul.

Question

What is a muscular faith?

Answer

A muscular faith is based on the gospel truth of Jesus Christ and not an external obedience to the law (…). We do good works not to be saved, on the contrary, we do good works because we have been saved (…). It is necessary for faith to be frequently exercised in all things (…), without any accompanying support from pleasant feelings (…). Just as time under tension builds bodily strength, a strong muscular faith in God also requires frequent exercise with resistance (…).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you have taught me to keep all your commandments by loving you and my neighbor: Grant me the grace of your Holy Spirit, that I may be devoted to you with my whole heart, and united to others with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Divine Protection

91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. Psalm 91:1-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The ultimate goal of fitness is wholeness of body, soul, and spirit. Looking good and feeling good are a part of it, but fitness requires more than performance and appearance to be complete. To be fit is to be able to stand like a rock, or move like a mighty river, as the situation dictates. This completeness, this wholeness, this oneness of body, soul, and spirit, is fitness. Know that God has created you to be fit and thrive in Christ Jesus.. God the Father is our husbandman. We need only trust and wait on Him to do what only He can do. Lift up your head and see that through Christ Jesus we have been blessed with the precious opportunity to participate in His divine nature. God has given us His word for this purpose. The Word is spiritual seed planted in our hearts when we choose to believe it. We water and nurture it by meditating on it and speaking in accordance with it. Then in due time the seed produces fruit as we act on it in faith with praise and thanksgiving to God. Almighty God, whose name alone is excellent and worthy of praise, from the tiniest particles of quantum mechanics to the infinite vastness of the cosmos, how great Thou art, O God! All else pales in comparison to knowing Thee.

Question

What is the assurance of faith?

Answer

It is an elementary level of knowing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt. Just as when we learn (1 + 1 = 2) no amount of contrary information presented to us will cause any doubt, and such is the assurance of faith. What mathematical principles are to the material, the Word of God is to the spiritual. Thus, the assurance of faith depends on three conditions:

1. The exercise of believing faith based solely on the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (…).
2. A complete consecration to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (…).
3. The prayer of faith for complete sanctification (…).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you have taught me to keep all your commandments by loving you and my neighbor: Grant me the grace of your Holy Spirit, that I may be devoted to you with my whole heart, and united to others with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord Is a Friend to Those Who Fear Him

12 Who are those who fear the Lord?
    He will show them the path they should choose.
13 They will live in prosperity,
    and their children will inherit the land.
14 The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
    He teaches them his covenant.
15 My eyes are always on the Lord,
    for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. Psalm 25:11-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

One of the surest roads to unhappiness for a Christian is to want to live for Christ and still allow self to take pleasure in sin. Having been cleansed from past sins by the precious blood of Christ, never allow yourself to look back with fondness at any of the sins in your former way of life. To do so allows the adversary of our soul to gain a foothold. Accepting a single wrong thought in the mind seems like a little thing, but great wild fires often start with a single spark. This is why Scripture instructs us to be diligent about guarding our hearts. Guard the heart by using conformity to the Word of God as the standard to determine the rightness or wrongness of every thought. Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Accept what is good, cast away what is not. This is the narrow road of the joyful Christian life.

Question

Why is the Holy Bible so important?

Answer

Because it is just what it says it is (…). God has magnified His word above all (…). Rather than listening to the fiery darts from the wicked (…), make Satan listen to your high sounding praises to God (…). Temporary physical symptoms and current circumstances amount to lying vanities when they stand contrary to faith in the word of God (…). Let what God has said settle it every time (…). That’s what father Abraham did (…). Abraham refused to dwell on the physical facts that he was nearly a hundred years old and Sarah was well past childbearing age (…). Instead, he focused on God and believed His promise (…). Hinder not the grace of God by unbelief (…). Pray knowing that you are bringing your request to the King of kings and Lord of lords (…). The greatness of His power and grace is so far beyond what we can imagine that you cannot ask too much (…). 

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you have taught me to keep all your commandments by loving you and my neighbor: Grant me the grace of your Holy Spirit, that I may be devoted to you with my whole heart, and united to others with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel. Psalm 128 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Taking the easy way out leads only to lost opportunity and regret. Many people don’t choose the best way in life because it looks hard and painful. Judge only by appearances, and a seemingly pleasurable, easy, fun-loving way of life will be chosen every time. Righteous judgement doesn’t shy away from what looks difficult, and is not repulsed by the temporary hardness of the way. All who rely on sight will make the difficulty of the way something they will want to avoid. This is why we are commanded to walk by faith and rely on God for all things. Know that our God is always faithful and good. So, put your hands to the plow with joy. Only in this life can we work for eternal rewards. There is nothing more any of us can do in the grave. How we are at death will determine how we will be for eternity. Wisdom demands that we be well prepared for whatever comes first, either the return of our Lord Jesus Christ or His calling us home.

Question

Why do we train?

Answer

Training is everything and everything is training (…). Train the way you will fight (…), because you will fight the way you have trained (…). Training for the metabolic conditioning of the soul requires three things: denying self (…), picking up your cross (…), and following Jesus Christ (…).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you have taught me to keep all your commandments by loving you and my neighbor: Grant me the grace of your Holy Spirit, that I may be devoted to you with my whole heart, and united to others with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God Is My Strength and My Portion Forever

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. Psalm 73:25-28 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

To have strength equal to the number of our days is the single most important reason to exercise. Workout like you will live forever, and walk in the light that it is all going to come to an end in an instant. These are the last days and Jesus Christ is coming again soon. It is not for us to know when exactly the end will come. It is more important to know to be ready than it is to know when. All who conform to the pursuit of our own happiness standards of this world, will perish just as the people who laughed at Noah did before the great flood. Don’t get so caught up chasing what you want that you forget to live in light of what the holy Scriptures tell us is sure to come. First and foremost remember that a personal relationship with Christ Jesus is the one present necessity in this life. The Word has been brought close to you. Know by faith that Christ in you, and His word dwelling in you, are one and the same. Don’t look for any particular feelings or supernatural experiences. Only believe that Christ lives in you because the word of God says it is so. All will prove to be vain and foolish in the end without Christ our Redeemer. On that day, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. While for those of us who have been prepared by the gospel of peace, there will be great joy at the coming of our Lord! 

Question

What of pride and despair?

Answer

Pride comes from glorifying our own greatness (…), and despair comes from dwelling on our own shortcomings (…). Fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ is the remedy for both of these maladies (…). By a simple focus on Christ, and sincerity of godly intentions with every act, we are joined with all of creation in glorifying God (…).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you have taught me to keep all your commandments by loving you and my neighbor: Grant me the grace of your Holy Spirit, that I may be devoted to you with my whole heart, and united to others with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.