faith

Devotional for April 16

April 16, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Rest In These Days of Trouble

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

Unload the junk in the trunk that is slowing you down if you want to go faster. The best way to overcome dead weight is to cut it loose and get rid of it. Throw out the old ways that hinder and take hold of eternal life. Don’t delay. If you are waiting for someone to hand you a trophy for sleeping, you are dreaming. Wake up and go to work. Rest when you must, because only the lazy rest without being tired. (Isaiah 50:10-11, 5:18-20; James 4:8; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Proverbs 26:14; Ecclesiastes 7:2-6; 1 Peter 3:12; Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:1-20; john 13:17)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 20; Psalms 25

Ecclesiastes 3; 1 Timothy 5

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. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 15

April 15, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Living in the Eye of the Storm

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. Psalm 37:23-31(KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Never take the easy way out. Mental toughness comes from being able to get “hard to do things” done. Always remember: when things get as hard as they can get, from that point on they can only get easier. Learn to endure. Mental toughness is a fruit that grows from prevailing prayer. Prevailing prayer is not about continually asking. It is more about continually believing that after you’ve prayed you will receive it. Once it is in the mail you don’t have to keep asking for it to be sent. Be joyful like Abraham. Praise God and be thankful while you wait to receive it. (Proverbs 1:10-19; Proverbs 10:2-5; Luke 9:61-62; Hebrews 11:8; Romans 4:20-25; Genesis 32:24-28; 1 Kings 18:41-46; James 5:13-18; Matthew 7:7-8, 21:22; Hebrews 11:11; Mark 11:24; Isaiah 53:1; Mark 9:23)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 19; Psalms 23-24

Ecclesiastes 2; 1 Timothy 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 14

April 14, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Abide in the Word

15 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psalm 15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Life is a journey sometimes filled with clouds of unknowing and storms of doubt. Fear them not, because God is faithful. Pray for the love of the truth and such times of testing will result in the experiential knowledge of the truth, which are necessary to strengthen belief. (John 18:37-38; Luke 13:23-24; 2 Timothy 3:7; John 17:11, 14-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-17; John 16:33; James 1:2-4; Proverbs 3:5-8; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Proverbs 17:3, 1:23, :11-12, 16:3; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Jude 1:24-25)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 18; Psalms 22

Ecclesiastes 1; 1 Timothy 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread; Open the eyes of my faith, that I may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 13

April 13, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Blessed Are All Those Who Run to the Lord

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psalm 2:6-12(KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It is easy for the things of this world to consume too much of our attention. Struggling to keep our heads above water seems like the norm for many of us. We rush around putting out one fire after another, chasing our own tails, and fighting over cheese in a world that is becoming more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous every day. Who will save us from ourselves? There is but one who can speak to the condition of every weary soul, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Many today only trust in money, but the believer needs to remember the name of the Lord. Jesus Christ is our Ever-Present God. Jesus Christ is our Peace and Well-being. Jesus Christ is our chief Shepherd and Protector. Jesus Christ is our Provider and Source. Jesus Christ is our Unchangeable Absolute, Victor and Triumphant Warrior King. Jesus Christ is our Eternal Righteous Redeemer. Jesus Christ is our Healer, Divine Health and Strength. It is good to praise the Almighty Power of the Lord for our sake. Giving God the glory due his name adds nothing to God, but it sure does provide an anchor for our soul. (Ephesians 1:3-12; Matthew 6:24; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Romans 8:1-5; Hebrews 6:17-19, 13:8; Psalm 21:13, 23:1-6, 20:7-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 17; Psalms 20-21

Proverbs 31; 1 Timothy 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 12

April 12, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Praise Our God

5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Psalm 66:5, 7-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The fire of youth is a marvelous thing. It can be wasted chasing after good times, or it can be invested striving after good works. What we are left with when youth is gone depends largely upon how we chose to spend it. (1 Peter 2:2; James 1:21; 1 Corinthians 13:11; Ecclesiastes 11:10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 2:1-10; James 1:2-4; Hebrews 6:1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; Psalm 16:6-8)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 16; Psalms 19

Proverbs 30; 1 Timothy 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 11

April 11, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Soul Longs for the Lord

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?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
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 42:1-7,11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Focus on doing what you can with what you have, and what you can’t do or don’t have, will become less and less important. Good enough executed right now is better than perfection executed too late. Procrastination gives birth to a complacency well known to miss every opportune moment. Don’t despise small beginnings and slow progress as long as you are moving forward in the right direction. One small step of faith taken today and tomorrow consistently will over time change everything. (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 6:7; Isaiah 32:6; Psalm 17:11-15; Zechariah 4:10; 2 Chronicles 16:9; James 4:1-10; 2 Chronicles 7:14; 2 Peter 1:2-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Peter 3:17-18)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 15; Psalms 18

Proverbs 29; 2 Thessalonians 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 10

April 10, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord is a Shield

1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. Psalm 3:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Building muscle and developing character both take time. Choosing shortcuts only slows the process. Don’t be so quick to reach for the easy way out just because things are currently hard. Hard times may linger, but tough people are those who develop the discipline it takes to endure. What comes without discipline never lasts. The sooner we learn that there is no lasting satisfaction for the pursuit of happiness apart from God the better. The preparation of the gospel of peace is for developing discipline, wisdom, righteousness, patience, and fitness for every good work. Such is the straight and narrow way that leads to eternal life. (Proverbs 20:21, 24:30-34; Luke 8:17; Hebrews 12:1-17; James 1:5-6; Matthew 7:7-14; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Ephesians 6:15; Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 6:1-12; 2 Timothy 2:15; Jude 1:17-25)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 14; Psalms 17

Proverbs 28; 2 Thessalonians 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 9

April 9, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Blessed

147 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. Psalm 147:1-7, 11-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Keep working. It is destiny for the bird to sing and the butterfly to dance, but only after working through the egg or cocoon. Skipping workouts is NOT the way to grow strong. The spiritual equivalent of skipping workouts is refusing to fight the good fight of the faith. Once we have broken free of our spiritual cocoon, the striving will cease. We only need to stand in a right relationship with God, put on the complete armor God has provided, and remain in the love of God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Victory is assured, because the battle is the Lord’s. (Psalm 78: 1-11; Zechariah 13:9; James 4:7-10; Proverbs 16:3; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; 2 Chronicles 20:15-22; Ephesians 6:11-18; Romans 8:26-39; John 15:3-11; Hebrews 11:32-40; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 13; Psalms 15-16

Proverbs 27; 2 Thessalonians 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Daily Writing Prompt

There is Only One

April 8, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Daily writing prompt

What book could you read over and over again?

View all responses

I have been reading the Holy Bible everyday for 16 years now. This practice has completely changed everything about me for the better. By faith I was born again many years before I started feeding daily on the Word of God. My life didn’t start to change, however, until I started learning and practicing the Word. I have read the entire NIV, ESV, NASB, NLT, and KJV versions of the Bible. I have been blessed by them all, but the most blessed version of the Bible for me is the KJV. I have been reading it exclusively for the past 5 years or so. I plan to continue this practice for as long as I live. It is just as essential for my soul as air, food, and water are to my body.

Here is the key: Don’t go to the Bible to decide whether or not you should believe it. All who do so will find it locked and it’s transforming power out of reach. Go to the Bible to see what we are to believe. This is the knock that opens the Holy Book. (Matthew 4:1-4; 2 Peter 1:20-21; James 1:21;Romans 12:2; Matthew 7:7-8)

faith

Devotional for April 8

April 8, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Narrow Way

5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Psalm 66:5-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Everyone believes that exercise and healthy eating are necessary for physical fitness, but belief alone is not enough. Fitness comes only to those who practice what they believe, and so it is with the things of the spirit as well. Faith is the practice of what we believe. We are called to live by faith and depend on the grace of God to press toward the call heavenward in Christ Jesus. Now faith is the evidence of our hope in the promises of God. Turn from lessor things and seek God. He has promised to make himself known to those who hunger and thirst for His righteousness. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Can anything in life be more important than knowing Him? Stop demanding a burning bush, a light brighter than the sun, or to put your hand into His side. Believe the gospel, enter into it by faith, and expect to be strengthened by grace. (Exodus 3:1-6; Acts 26:8-29; John 20:24-29; Hebrews 11:1-6; Hebrews 13:9; Matthew 5:6; Psalm 81:10; James 2:15-19; Hebrews 10:38; James 1:2-4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 13:5; John 14:1-7; Matthew 28:19-20)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 11-12; Psalms 13-14

Proverbs 26; 1 Thessalonians 5