Rejoice In the Name of the Lord

5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
8 O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalm 89:5-8, 14-17 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Fear and anxiety see crisis and problems, but faith sees only opportunity. As we rightly believe, so will it be done. This is a kingdom principle. Consider the finished work of Christ on the Cross. Complete healing is among those wonderful things that have been purchased for us by the precious blood of Christ. No longer do we have to live in bondage to self and sin. We have been crucified with Christ. We pick up our cross daily and willing bear the hundreds of endless opportunities to choose faith in God over worry. When we sanctify Jesus Christ as Lord and Master of our life, then the wicked ways of the flesh and this evil world will not be able to cling to us. Arise, appropriate the word of God by faith, walk in its light, and it will make you free.

Question

How do we handle the ever increasing uncertainty of life in this modern world?

Answer

Just as all is dark on the side of the moon turned away from the sun, all is dark when we are turned away from the Lord (Proverbs 4:19; Psalm 89:15, 119:130, 147:1). What the heart believes to be true and the mind imagines, the body will manifest (Romans 1:18-32). If the heart believes lying vanities(Jeremiah 17:9), the mind will be full of ill imaginations and reasonings set above the knowledge of God (Proverbs 4:20-23, 28:1, 3:5-8). Wrong beliefs based solely on the physical circumstances produces turmoil in the soul and the negative effects of stress on the body (Isaiah 59:1-9). The mind manifests fear, uncertainly, and doubt when we allow what we see to become larger than the God who is always with us (Isaiah 50:10-11; Jonah 2:8; Psalm 42:11). Lift and shift your attention to the Lord, remember your God and faith will allow you to enter into His rest of perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3-4; Deuteronomy 31:6-7; Hebrews 4:1-6; John 14:15-27; Matthew 28:19-20).

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

Lord, make me have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, fore ever and ever. Amen.

Let the Lord Be Magnified

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. Psalm 35:9-10, 27-28 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Never despise small or slow beginnings. The late bloomers are often the most beautiful flowers of all. BY FAITH & TRUST is the motto of a righteous man. The only way to walk through the straight gate is with faith and trust in God. Faith is God’s appointed way to receive His grace. Believe the gospel. God will enable you to keep His commandments, abide in our Heavenly Vine, and to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Let faith and trust in God be the standard for determining right thoughts and actions. Hold on to this rule of faith through all the normal testing and trials of everyday life. All who trust and wait on the Lord in this way will develop the patience, perseverance, and endurance that blossoms into spiritual maturity. BY FAITH & TRUST

Question

How does love begin?

Answer

Attention is the beginning of love (Psalm 10:4; Matthew 6:31-33). Lifting up the heart to God is to give Him our attention before all things (Lamentations 3:41; Proverbs 3:6; Revelation 3:20). Love is a person’s greatest treasure (Matthew 13:44-46; Psalm 119:14; Matthew 6:21; James 1:22-25; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Stir yourself up and take hold of Jesus Christ by thinking of Him often as you can (Isaiah 58:11-12, 40:30-31; John 15:1-14). Let prayer, work, and everything else begin with turning the affections attentively toward God (James 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 27:8; Matthew 6:9-13). 

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

Lord, make me have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, fore ever and ever. Amen.

My Soul Rests in God Alone

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 62:5-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Look at the lifestyle of the middle-aged and it is easy to predict their future quality of life should the Lord allow them to live to be old and gray. Another thing just as certain — (no matter who you are, what titles you have won, or how much money you have) – there is no value in material gain without knowing Jesus Christ. Faith in God is far better than self-discipline. Prayer in accordance with the truth of God is far more effective than diet, physical exercise, performance enhancing drugs, and any other combination of things based solely on the elementary principles of this world. The truth of God is the solid rock of eternity. Physical realities are merely the shifting sands of now. As we learn to depend upon the truth of God rather than our physical senses, only then do we become free. Build your life on the Jesus Christ and blessings for self and others will follow.

Question

How important is what we say?

Answer

We are like small mirrors made to reflect divine glory (Genesis 1:26-27). We can say “I will now move my finger” and it moves (Psalm 82:1-7, Psalm 12; Isaiah 57:15-21). Speaking and moving our little finger  is but a small reflection of the unlimited power of God to speak and His will be done (Hebrews 11:1-3; Luke 4:1-4). Exactly how God calls into existence the things that are not (Romans 4:16-25), is not something we need to know (Ecclesiastes 3:14; Deuteronomy 29:29). If such details were important for us to know, Jesus Christ would have told us (John 14:2). What is clear from the Scriptures is that as the off-spring of God (Acts 17:28), what we say is very important to God (Proverbs 18:20-21; Matthew 12:33-37). Having a good conversation is more to be desired than are big muscles or a pretty face (Acts 17:29-31; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 3:1-4, 13-16, 4:7-11).

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

Lord, make me have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, fore ever and ever. Amen.

The Upright Will See This and Rejoice

1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. Psalm 107:1-3, 8-9, 42-43 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Each of us digs for treasure in this life wherever we think best. Blessed are those who search the Word of God for their treasure. When we are able to taste and see the infinite goodness and perfection of the Lord within the Holy Bible, the truth of God becomes more precious than mountains gold. No need to be overly concerned about when or how. No need to worry about what is or what will be. Faith in God is enough to overcome all the power of the darkness of this world. Receive, believe, and profess the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Question

How do we taste and see that the Lord is good?

Answer

We able to tell if a food is good or bad to eat by how it tastes (Isaiah 7:15). Our spiritual sense of taste works in the same way be decerning what is right from what is wrong (Hebrews 5:12-14; John 6:28-35). A tree is known by its fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). Everyone who tastes the Word of God will acknowledge that God is good (John 1:14, 6:27, 55-58, 63; Romans 12:9-21). The Word of God is sweeter than honey and better than the best protein (Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 7:24-28; Psalm 119:103-104). The sun always shines, but when the earth turns away it sits in darkness (James 1:17). In the same way, our turning away from the light of God causes us to sit in darkness, blind, and unable to see (Isaiah 59:1-10; James 4:8-10; 2 Peter 1:2-11). Taste, see, and live (Psalm 1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2:15-26; 4:22).

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

Lord, make me have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, fore ever and ever. Amen.

I Delight to Do Your Will, O My God

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:4-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Everyone gets tired, the great secret is not to let it control you. Feel the fatigue and joyfully get done what needs to be done anyway. We all have needs and our heavenly Father has infinitely more than we could ever need or want. Learn to ask God and pray until you have an inner assurance concerning every need. You will know this inner assurance when worry, confusion, fear, and uncertainty give way to the peace of God. Now rejoice and go to work with the full expectation of a bountiful harvest. Never speak in agreement with the inner tempter, nor entertain thoughts that are contrary to faith in the promises of God. Every doubting thought does not come from the God who has called you. Move to praising God before you see the blessing and send the enemy armed with his flaming darts of doubt running for his dark hiding places. Waiting on the Lord means to fight this good fight of faith. Hold firmly to the commands and promises of our God. Guard against every imagination that would cause the gall and wormwood of unbelief to creep up in the heart. Let perseverance finish its work. God is never late, nor He ever early. He is always right on time with all things and in every way. The Spirit teaches us to depend on the faithfulness of God. It is in believing and trusting God based on the truth as revealed in the holy Scriptures that all the promises of God are fulfilled for those who are in Christ. The one who stands fast in the faith will come to know the truth by experience. It cannot be otherwise, because Faithful and True is the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Question

How do we maintain our joy when we are hungry, tired, and worn-out?

Answer

Start with establishing a consistent routine with the opportunity to sleep for eight hours each night (Psalm 127:1-2, 4:8), and one day of rest each week (Exodus 20:9; Mark 2:24-28; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6). When stress and fatigue can’t be avoided (John 16:24-33; Philippians 4:11-13), always begin with prayer (James 5:13). Bodily fatigue makes the heart more susceptible to the wiles of the enemy (Proverbs 18:14). Therefore, be more diligent to guard your heart when you are weary (Proverbs 4:20-27; Ephesians 6:16-18; 2 Corinthians 2:11). And lastly, depend on the Lord to strengthen you (Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 13:9; John 4:6, 28-36; 2 Corinthians 12:9), and the joy of the Lord will enable you to ride every wave of weariness that comes along (Psalm 42:5, 118:18-29; Nehemiah 8:10). No fatigue, weariness, or stress can ever separate us from the love of Lord (Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 3:14-21).

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

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

The Lord is the Stronghold of My Life

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:1-4 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There is no such thing as scarcity or limit with God. The abundant goodness of our God is ready to overflow every cup with grace, but we hinder His grace with our unbelief. He did not have to fill the universe with so many stars, but such is His super-abundant nature. He didn’t have to send Jesus to redeem us, but such is His limitless love for us. God has not changed the commission given to man in the beginning to the managerial conduit through which the power of God flows into all the earth. It is our own small thinking and tiny believing that limits our experience of the power of God. Limitless applies only to God. Allow the following two great lessons from John Bunyan and Brother Lawrence to penetrate deep within your heart: 1) Prayer will stop sinning, or sinning will stop prayer; and 2) Whatever remedy we choose will only succeed as far as God allows. Cast down every thought that would exalt itself above the knowledge of God. Let the prayer of faith make room for the grace of God, and to Him be the glory and power forever.

Question

Is everything negotiable?

Answer

Everything considered negotiable only by those who have no knowledge of God (Acts 17:28-31). The holy Trinity of God is the only sovereign being that is complete in Himself (Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1-3). All of creation needs other parts of creation to survive (Psalm 104:1-24). God alone sits as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:12-15). Therefore, what God says is non-negotiable truth (John 17:17). To enter into a negotiation, each party involved has to have something that the other party wants or needs (Psalm 116:12-17). God is perfectly sufficient in Himself (Acts 17:22-25). All is His and we have nothing to add to Him (Luke 16:1-9). It is either take His yoke upon you and be blessed (Matthew 11:27-30), or refuse and suffer the same end as the devil and his angels (Luke 13:1-5). Life is a simple choice and it is non-negotiable (Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Timothy 1:17).

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

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

Happy Are They Whom You Teach Your Word

9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Psalm 94:9-15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Life is a song. Arrange the pieces and make something beautiful to glorify God. Choose to deny self, for the world is full of enough meaningless noise. Start with the love of God, never lose sight of it, never let it go. Be willing to be made holy, sanctified in Christ Jesus. That is to say, be set apart from all the ungodly ways of this world. Remove all that defiles within and without. Be the temple of the Lord and filled with his Holy Spirit. Let your faith and hope be in God. Rejoice, give thanks, and praise the Lord. Do these things and you will glorify God in all that you say and do.

Question

How do we limit the grace of God?

Answer

The hindrance is not on God’s side (Romans 8:32; Ephesians 2:1-10). As God is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8), He is the source of all good things and all grace needs to return back to Him with glory (James 1:17-25; 1 Corinthians 10:31). We impede grace when we steal glory due to God (Jeremiah 2: 12-13; Isaiah 10:15, 42:8-10). Those who are not willing to crown Jesus Christ as Lord in their heart and life (Isaiah 50:10-11), only frustrate the flow of the power of God through unbelief and selfishness (John 5:44; Hebrews 11:6; Colossians 3:23-24; Luke 9:23-25; James 4:1-5). A spiritual conductor of grace on the other hand, will find that the flow of grace increases as they boomerang the glory back to God (1 Timothy 1:15; James 4:6-8; Proverbs 4:13-27; Philippians 4:4-8; 2 Timothy 2:15-16; 2 Peter 3:18).

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

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

Praise to God for His Salvation and Providence

65 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. Psalm 65:8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

To want one thing and do another, or to say one thing and practice another, is so common among us that it almost seems normal. Stop using the right hand to struggle against the left. This is what we do when we try to use our own strength to overcome our sinful habits and practices. Give up this struggle, because it is not by our strength that we overcome the world in us. The Bible clearly tells us it is our faith in Christ which overcomes the world. Fall down under the burden of that which has been oppressing you. That’s right, fall down on your knees with sincerity of heart and ask for the mercy of the Lord. Our God is gracious! He bestows mercy to all who humble themselves and call out to Him for deliverance. By His divine power we are crucified with Christ to the world, and the world is crucified in us. Accept it by faith, know that it is the will of God, ask for it to be done, believe it and it will be so. The old you is dead. The old me is dead. Good riddance to them both. Now are we new creations in Christ Jesus. You must believe it before you come to know it. Praise God and rejoice even before you see it. 

Question

Why do we oppose ourselves?

Answer

Because we heed the lying vanities that come from the flesh, the world, and the devil (Jonah 2). Having been washed from our former sins (Ephesians 5:25-27), all of our life must be willingly placed under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 6:46-49). This is how we are able to walk in the Spirit rather than the lusts of the flesh (Ephesians 4:11-27; Galatians 5:16-26). The wisdom of this world if full of the corrupting influence of sin that only seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:1-10; 1 John 3:8, 10-15; Revelation 20:1-6). The devil prowls around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:6-8), but he has no authority over the born again child of God as long as we keep the yoke of Christ upon us (Psalm 32:8-9; Colossians 1:9-13). The devil seeks to persuade us to come back to his kingdom of rebels with the same lie he used in the Garden about being the captain of our own soul (Revelation 2:1-7). The day will come when all that is false will be casted away forever (Matthew 13:41-42). No matter how real something seems in the present, all lying vanities will be shaken and removed (Hebrews 12:22-29; Revelation 22:6-21).

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

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

Tell the Coming Generations

78 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. Psalm 78:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The body should by strengthen by diet and exercise to extend youthfulness, and there is no reason to fear getting older when your heart is strengthen by the grace of Jesus Christ. Expect the Lord to guide you. There is no need to steer a parked car, however, so move forward toward the mark of your calling in Christ Jesus. Go slow when you are unsure. There will be time to go faster once the assurance of faith is received. Don’t despite taking baby steps. One step, fall down, get back up, take two, maybe fall again, and then get back up again. That’s how every baby learns to walk. It is natural for childhood to give way to adulthood over time. In the same way, it is normal for the Christian to grow to spiritual maturity in Christ more and more with each passing day. Jesus is the Rock which can never be shaken. Love the Lord with your whole heart and be blessed whether young or old, whether full or empty, come rain or shine. Let all who willingly submit to the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Question

How do we grow spiritually?

Answer

We can grow IN grace, but we cannot grow INTO grace (John 1:17; Romans 8:3-4). Therefore, we must first be born again (John 3:1-12). Then we must be nourished (1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 13:18-23; 1 John 3:9). The mal-nourished spirit of the child left on his own will not thrive (Proverbs 29:15-18; 3 John 2:2; Proverbs 3:5-8). Next we must exercise our spiritual muscles (Philippians 3:7-15; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 2 Peter 1:3-13; 1 Timothy 4:8; Proverbs 24:5). And lastly, we need to develop patience, which is simply consistency with the passing of time (Mark 4:25-34; Hebrews 5:12-14; James 1:2-8; Luke 8:15; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Ephesians 6:10, 3:14-21).

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

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

Planted in the House of the Lord

92 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:
2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands..
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Six-pack abs are nice, but what’s inside the package will always be of far greater importance than the outside wrapping. Physical beauty and physical strength are certainly desirable in this world, but the fruits of the Spirit are of far more value in the life that now is and the one to come. Though it is completely natural to get older and older each year until we die, yet the fruits of the Spirit will shine forth brighter and brighter until the full day of eternity. It is vain to set one’s hope on physical beauty or physical strength when they are but grass. Let them be as servants and not as masters of the heart. Seek to know His righteousness and worship God with all your heart. Pray and wait on the Lord continuously. Enhance physical heath and improve physical strength for whatever good work God has called you to do, and be content with the beauty and strength that God grants you. Envy not others who seem to exceed you, nor look down on those who seem to be less than you. Both envy and conceit grow from the same sinful root of pride. Deny self and learn to rest in your proper abode: Christ in you, you in Christ, and Christ in the Father.  

Question

Why do we need to take His yoke upon us?

Answer

Because no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24; John 8:31-34). Our first parents fumbled the ball in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6), which caused us all to be born as slaves in the camp of enemy of our souls (Romans 7:24-25; 1 John 3:8; Galatians 5:16-23). What the first Adam lost (Romans 5:12-19), Jesus Christ has won back for us (John 1:1-12; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 2:8-15; John 3:16). Taking His yoke upon us means fully submitting ourselves to His authority (Matthew 11:28-30, 16:21-25). Jesus Christ reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 17:14; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Revelation 19:16). To those who willing place themselves under the authority of Christ (1 Timothy 6:15), He has delegated His authority and given the right to call on the power of His name (Acts 19:13-17; John 16:24; 2 Corinthians 1:20). All the promises of God are “yes and yes” for all those called by love to place His yoke upon their heart (John 15:8-17; Psalm 18:1-2; John 14:15-27; Matthew 8:5-13; Matthew 28:18-20).

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

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace each of us may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.