faith

Devotional for October 28

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 103:20-22 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

As wickedness increases all over the world, all who don’t know God will be increasingly filled with fear, uncertainly, and doubt. But peace shall be upon the people of God who have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. By believing the Word of God we are able to receive the gifts of grace promised to Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. Stick to the good fight of faith and expect the enemy to come at you the hardest when you feel the strongest, when you feel the weakest, and when you least expect it. Rest and contentment are among the effects of God’s gift of righteousness on this side of eternity. The gospel of salvation is Christ living within us. Faith receives the promise, and all the promises are quickened by the love of God. There is peace, quietness, and confidence in the presence of God, even in the midst of raging storms. The way out of the wilderness into the promised land is paved with thanksgiving and praise. Do the will of God by rejoicing always, praying as you go about the day’s business, and giving God thanks and praise regardless of circumstances.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 9, 1 Timothy 6

Hosea 1, Psalm 119:73-96

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 27

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Abiding Upon Your Holy Hill

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Psalm 107:20-22 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Our souls will normally be at ease when we have eaten well, when our sleep has been good, when we are pain free, and when we are surround by physical comforts. The real test comes in the absence of these things though. If we truly believe the kingdom principle that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord, then come what may our soul will dwell in the comfort of the Lord even in the mist of physical discomforts. Train yourself to never complain. The Bible calls complaining about present difficulties speaking against the Lord. To do so doesn’t please the Lord, and it only makes what is already hard even harder to bear. Our loving heavenly Father has commanded us to keep our tongue from speaking evil for our own good. Deceit, gossip, and slander all roll of the tongue way too easy unless we guard our heart against it. Keep the conscience tender and be quick to repent of such sins. A lack of a reverent fear of the Lord is a dark river filled with complaining and fault finding that leads only to spiritual death. God must do all. From the new birth to full spiritual maturity, God must do all. Our responsibility is to pray like 100% of the results depends on God, as well as to work like we are 100% responsible for our willingness to endure and do the work. For both are equally true, and to God alone belongs the results of our prayers and work. Therefore, to God belongs all the glory. Trust God, pray, work, and give thanks. He will certainly make of you all that He created you to be.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 5

Psalm 119:49-72

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 26

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Offer a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Psalm 107:20-22 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Resist the urge to rush to the finish line like a jackrabbit be it a single workout or a lifelong goal. Start slowly and build momentum little by little all the way to the finish. This is the sure way of the tortoise that wins in the end. One does not reach spiritual maturity all at once. First the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. Our heavenly Father is our husbandman giving the early and later rains to nourish the faith that brings forth His precious spiritual fruit in all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ. Great is the reward for the child who steadily holds to the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Hearing is more than the mechanical perception of sound. Hearing requires understanding what God has said, and then daring to believe His truth by conforming how we live. This is the type of hearing that increases faith. Just listening without hearing is of little profit. The ugly birds of prey are quick to snatch up the Word that falls upon the hard packed soil of the unbelieving heart. Chase those fowls away. Our God is mighty to save. We have His spoken word in the Holy Book by grace. Quicken us Lord to believe and live it.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 4

Psalm 119:25-48

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 25

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Trust the Lord

1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Psalm 125:1-3 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Sugar and artificial sweeteners have become snares in our food dragging people all over the world into the bondage of addition and sickness. The effects of sugar, just like any poison, depends largely on the dose. The more sugar consumed the fatter and sicker we become as a result. Sugar will only be restricted at the table when we realize how necessary doing so is for our good health. The world takes sugar and sin far too lightly. Sin, unlike sugar though, has no safe dose. Sin is the foolishness of a short-term pleasure that only produces suffering and eternal damnation. To ignore or hide sin only hardens the heart leaving the soul troubled in this life and unfit for the next. Sin must first be confessed before one can turn from it and receive the forgiveness found only in Christ Jesus. We must turn from sin and be born again as first principles. The blood of Jesus restores the original glory we were created to reflect. Our bodies are made up of trillions of tiny cells each designed to praise the Lord. It is a rightness that can be felt when all of these of these trillions of tiny cells obey our command to “Praise the Lord, O my soul, let all that is within me praise His holy name.”

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 3

Psalm 119:1-24

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 24

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

In the Shadow of Your Wings

10 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. Psalm 57:1-3 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Great is our God. So sure is our need for His mercy, that with total confidence we can believe that He will grant the grace to meet our every need. What then can hinder His grace? You do not ask for it because you think the mere asking for mountains to move is too easy. Or you ask amiss because of wrong motives. Or you allow what you see or feel about the situation to cause you to be blown and tossed about like the doubleminded. Cast all of your burdens on the Lord. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will renew you with His strength. All things are possible with God, and His will is absolute goodness. It is better to trust in the Word of God then it is to trust in any contrary thoughts that arise from our feelings. Believe the gospel and seek to enter through the gate of righteousness. There you will learn what you are to do, which is the good and perfect will of God. Though the promises of God may seem long in coming, be of good cheer. Wait on the Lord and all that He has promised will surely come.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 2

Psalm 117-118

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 23

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

He Remembers That We Are but Dust

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:10-14 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Being more than conquerors in Christ Jesus doesn’t require great faith, it only requires properly placed faith. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught that even faith the size of a tiny mustard seed of the one who believes all things are possible because God is God, will move mountains, do the greater works, and receive all the promises. Many miss the mark by placing their faith in faith rather than in God as Jesus instructed when He told His disciples to have faith in God. Let God be God. The full assurance of faith in God comes from: 1) His light – having an accurate knowledge of God as revealed in the Holy Bible; 2) His rod – having a total reliance upon His almighty power: 3) His staff – having total confidence in His unlimited wisdom; and 4) His peace – having complete trust in His absolute goodness. Together these represent all the spiritual blessings from heaven given to those in Christ Jesus. Give thanks to the God of our salvation, who has mercifully provided His all sufficient grace to abundantly supply all of our needs.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Timothy 1

Psalm 116

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Writing Prompt

A Journal for Managing Your Thoughts

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What have you been working on?
View all responses

One of the reasons journaling comes so highly recommended is because putting your thoughts on paper forces you to clarify things in your head. I have been journaling daily for over a decade now and that has certainly been the case for me. Currently, I am working on a series of books (one for each month of the year) for those who would like to begin the practice of journaling. These books are the helps I wish I had when I began journaling all those years ago. Each one consists of a daily selection of Scriptures from the King James Version of the Bible, a faith and fitness oriented quote relating to those Scriptures, and then ample space to record your thoughts. Use this link to find out more: https://www.amazon.com/My-Thoughts-How-to-Be-Better-Each-Day-with-Faith-and-Fitness-6-book-series/dp/B0CBVH2CZP

faith

Devotional for October 22

Bruce Coleman2 Comments

He Holds Our Souls in Life

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.
13 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:8-13, 17-18 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

God alone is omnipotent, which means that nothing is too hard for Him to do. Even the unfathomable power it took for creation, was as easy of a manifestation of God’s power as any other miracle in the Bible. He didn’t rest on the seventh day because He was tired, He rested because it was finished. Since all work is light work for God our Father, how much more willing is Jehovah-Jireh to provide all that we need. God is more than enough for our full salvation. So, let us lift up our hearts to God with our attention and desire. This is to hunger and thirst for the righteousness of the blessed way. Challenging a giant like Goliath before developing the reliance on God to overcome the lion and the bear, is to put the cart before the horse. Pray and wait for the Lord. He is our great help and shield. God loves you, and in his mercy has forgiven all who come to Christ Jesus. Calling on the name of the Lord with a penitent heart is proof of election, for not all men are blessed with faith in God. We are his people, children of the living God, the Most High to whom all power and glory belongs. This is worth remembering always. The more of the glory of God we are able to see, the smaller the problems of this life become. There will always be various types of giants in the land. Trust the Lord to deliver each one into your hand just as He did for David. For David had no sword in his hand when he went out and proclaimed to all that he was going to cut off the head of Goliath. He knew God would provide, and Jehovah-Jireh gave Goliath’s own sword to David. David trusted God with all his heart. Goliath fell, David removed his head, and the day was won by faith. 

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Thessalonians 3

Psalm 114-115

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 21

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

I Will Offer the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

16 O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.
19 In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 116:16-19 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

It is unlikely that the average person who travels to the White House will get anywhere near the President of the United States. None of us regular folks can just show up at Pennsylvania Avenue and expect to talk to the President. The President maybe one the most powerful man in the free world, yet still he is only human. Now consider the great privilege we have in Christ Jesus to come into the presence of the living God, the Creator of the vastness of the universe as well as the too tiny to see mysteries discovered by quantum physics. The one and only God who humbles Himself to look down at the heavens and the earth. We are blessed with the ability to talk to Almighty God anytime and in anyplace. Thank God for giving us prayer! It is our divine pass granting us access to the divinely ordained channel for communing with God. The misguided approach to prayer is like the person whose conversations are lopsided because they talk continuously, never pausing to listen, and never giving the other person space to say anything. We are commanded to pray for the grace of God we need, and then we should remain silent before God and listen. Those who don’t know God think it strange that God would talk to people. Don’t expect an audible voice though. The highest form of hearing doesn’t require physical ears. The tone, quality, and content of the voice makes the sender and the message clear. There is no substitute for knowledge of the written word of God for this necessary discernment. When pride is allowed to rule the heart, skepticism will sit as queen pushing the heart further and further from God. Woe to the one who waits for a burning bush when the glory of God can clearly be seen in the Holy Bible. There will be false prophets right up until the end, but that doesn’t mean we should ever succumb to the influence of the world and despise prophecy by our unbelief. Prayer is the most important business of a Christian. Your prayers don’t have to be perfect. Being sincere is more important than being poetic to our heavenly Father, therefore pray my brothers and sisters. Not with endless petitions for material blessings, but come to commune with the living God who loves you. Leave off the trivial things of this perishing world to spend more time in prayer, and true blessings will follow.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Thessalonians 2

Psalm 112-113

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

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 20

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

To You, O Lord My Strength, Will I Sing

14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. Psalm 59:14-17 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Faith grows as we come to know God better. We first get to know about God by studying the word of God. We gain a deeper level of knowing God through personal experience as we willing conform our life to the Word. To love God is to obey Him, and the more we love God the greater becomes our desire to please Him in all things. Thus, the greatest commandment is for our benefit more than it is for the benefit of God. Let the knowledge that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus be the reason for the assurance of the peace within you. This is your helmet of salvation provided by God. Take also the sword of the Spirit. Use the Word to cut through deception and discern what is right from what is wrong. The Word is an everlasting rock we can always depend on, and an anchor for our soul that will never fail.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Thessalonians 1

Psalm 110-111

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

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.