faith

Devotional for March 11

March 11, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

God is My Strength and Portion Forever

73 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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 73:1-3, 21-28 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Patience sometimes requires the eyes to be taken off the desired results and re-focused on the proper execution of the process. Stand firm. Let not the passing rain dampen your feelings. Life would be extremely boring if we knew all the details from beginning to end. It is enough to have the sure hope of everything working out for good for those who love the Lord. He who called you is faithful, and He will complete the new creation He began in you when you were born again. God will surely make of you a fully mature Christian soldier. Be attentive and take these commands: Submit all to God and resist the devil; Watch and Pray. (Ephesians 2:1-10; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 11:6; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:3-7; James 4:7; Mark 13:31-37)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 22; John 1

Job 40; 2 Corinthians 10

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that I, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear my cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

Daily Writing Prompt

Charlie Mike

March 10, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Daily writing prompt

Write a letter to your 100-year-old self.

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Continue Mission. Everlasting victory draws closer every day. Keep up the good fight until He comes again or until He calls you home. (Ecclesiastes 9:10; 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Romans 13:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; Matthew 25:23)

faith

Devotional for March 10

March 10, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Everlasting Character

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

Live according to the word of God, and you will be fit for both this life and the next. We are made sufficient for this only by the blood of Jesus Christ. By His grace, we are redeemed from this perishing world. Never quit pursuing the good that God has placed in your heart to do. He is the one who enables us to keep our hand on the plow working for His harvest. This is our privilege and pleasure. Keep your affections set on God, and come what may, all will be well with the soul that is close to the Lord. His love and mercy endure forever. (Revelation 12:9-12; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:61-62; Hebrews 10:39; Colossians 3:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-14; Romans 8:28; Psalm 136:1)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 21; Luke 24

Job 39; 2 Corinthians 9

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 9

March 9, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord Never Forsake His Faithful Ones

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.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. Psalm 37:28-33 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Impatience only makes waiting harder to bear. There is an appointed time for everything. Learn to be content in all circumstances. Remember the God of Peace will never leave nor forsake you. Feelings ebb, and feelings flow, like the high and low tides of the sea. Hope in God is the sure anchor to the everlasting Rock who is perfect in love, power, and majesty forever. Ask for what you need in prayer and trust your heavenly Father who has lovingly promised to care for you. Submit to God and resist the inner tempter. Work in faith and reject doubt. Depend on grace and deny self. Earnestly expect God to do great things and He will. Now go and exercise these, your convictions, and you will soon see the fruits of so doing. (Galatians 6:7-9; Hebrews 6:11-20; Proverbs 23:26-27, 3:5-8; Psalm 1; Proverbs 16:3)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 20; Luke 23

Job 38; 2 Corinthians 8

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 8

March 8, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord Is My Shepherd

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There is but one key to life. One essential for every circumstance. One needful thing for today and tomorrow. It can’t be purchased with money, nor can it be borrowed from another. Indeed, there is only one way to get this key. The one needful thing in this life is to know Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Even 1000 years is less than a minute when compared to eternity. Therefore, His promises are everlasting rock. (Luke 10:38-42; 1 Corinthians 10:1-14; Hebrews 4:2; Psalm 90:2; John 17:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 19; Luke 22

Job 37; 2 Corinthians 7

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 7

March 7, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Eyes of the Lord are on the Faithful

6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. Psalm 101:6-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Everyone would like to sail through life and right into heaven under a sunny sky and a favorable breeze. Not likely to happen that way though. Stormy weather afflicts every soul at one point or another as a consequence of life in this fallen world. The storms of life are meant to drive us into the only safe harbor, which is Jesus Christ. Don’t expect life to be easy, but do expect hard work to be rewarded. Don’t expect to win every fight, but do expect to win the war. Don’t expect to be honored. It is enough to be worthy of respect. Consistency is getting it done even when you don’t feel like doing it. To build anything on feelings alone, is to build on shifting sand. Sooner or later the good feelings will go, and then down comes the house not tempered with the mortar of consistency. (Ecclesiastes 10:1; Isaiah 7:9; James 1:5-8; Matthew 7:24-28; Mark 9:23; Proverbs 3:5-8; Hebrews 11:6)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 18; Luke 21

Job 36; 2 Corinthians 6

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 6

March 6, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Faith, Grace, Thanksgiving, and Glory to God

6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:6-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The chief means of grace for physical fitness are diet and exercise. While the chief means of grace for spiritual wellbeing are Bible intake and prayer. Just as the body denied its daily bread will eventually starve, so the soul not fed daily with the Word of God will be too weak to bear fruit. To bear fruit, the branch need only abide in the vine. We are the branches and to abide in our heavenly Vine we need to be intentional about having His word living in us. “Living in us” means that we conform our life to it. Let no one deceive you about it being enough to know the Bible without having a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. He has promised to manifest Himself to all who choose to be His disciples. He will make Himself known in answer to faith. Then will your thanksgiving for the abundant grace of God showered upon you rebound to the glory of God. (John 10:1-18; 15:1-10; Revelation 3:20; John 14:21-23)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 16; Luke 19

Job 34; 2 Corinthians 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 5

March 5, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Be Fruitful

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Stagger not at the promises of God through unbelief. The start of true happiness begins here in this life and will be fully manifested in paradise forever. Be whole. Chickens are divided into parts for frying, but godliness is for the whole spirit, soul, and body. Physical perfection with lameness of spirit is to be a cut flower without the ability to sustain life. And to neglect care of the body, as some are taught, is to tempt God. Our physical bodies seem to be insignificant when compared to our soul, however, the physical body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The body is the primary resource God has given us for His service in this life. Live for the day when you will hear the Lord say, “well done faithful steward, enter into the joy of your Master.” (Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Proverbs 30:20; 1 Corinthians 6:13, 19-20; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:10)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 16; Luke 19

Job 34; 2 Corinthians 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 4

March 4, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Strength of the Faithful

16 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. Psalm 16:1-9 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

True strength comes from within. The strong heart is established by grace and guarded by faith. Faith always counsels what is best and increases strength. A favorite tactic of the inner tempter is to get us to focus on what causes fear, worry, and doubt instead of the Word of Life that sustains faith in God. When faith is left unattended, it can be plucked off like feathers off a bird, and then blown about and tossed with the wind. If you choose faith, consider the decision settled forever. Never look back, and faith will never fail you. Focus on the Word and let fear starve to death. Let the love of the Word be a purifying fire in your heart. The lukewarm of heart, not really awake, not really dreaming, breeds only murmuring, suffering, and unhappiness. The way of the burning heart on the other hand, is like a champion rejoicing to run a difficult race. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to be champions of anything. It is God who has made us, who heals us, sustains us, and leads us. To Him be the glory and power forever. (John 1:1-4, 14-17; John 15:4-9; Revelation 3:14-22)