Key to Happiness

5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 146:5-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It has been said that the best things in life are free, but that doesn’t mean they are without cost. There is no better example than love. Love cannot be earned nor purchased. Yet pay no attention to it, and instead of it continuing to blossom into more happiness it will shrivel leaving mostly bitter regrets. The world says it’s okay to sow your wild oats and other such foolishness. God says to turn away from sin, not to keep us from having fun, but to protect our health, prosperity, and joy. Christ our Healer says “abide in Me,” and come out from every other place. Deny self and live constantly in the love of Jesus Christ. The wise will heed this instruction of the Lord. If you set the intention of your heart fully on abiding in Christ, His divine power will keep you there. But the foolish refuse this great salvation provided by the Lord. They live in the self-willed deceitfulness of their own hearts, and do suffer for it now and later. They act as one who does not know that in the hereafter everyone will have to give a full accounting of their stewardship of this life. Seek godly wisdom and she will protect you. Sure is the Word of God. Trust the Word to be your ever reliable fixed point and it will never fail you.

Question

What is the key to happiness?

Answer

Holiness is the key to happiness (3 John 1:2; Ephesians 4:24; Psalm 15:1-2, 40:8). If happiness is pursued apart from God, it will flee from you (Isaiah 50:10-11; Proverbs 23:5). Pursue holiness and happiness will find you (Psalm 144:9-15). Cast down evil imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:5), and cultivate creative vibrations instead (Philippians 4:8; Proverbs 16:3). Holiness is to participate in the divine nature of God (Psalm 32:1,1 John 1:9; Psalm 1; Romans 10:10-11), and happiness comes from a heart cleansed by the blood of the Lamb (Isaiah 61:1-3; 2 Peter 1:2-11; Revelation 12:9-11; Ephesians 6:10; 1 Peter 5:6-11).

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

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant that all of us may be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Remember the Lord Always

23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. Psalm 22:23-31 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

With all the easy ways to get six pack abs advertised on television, you would think more people would have six pack abs. These slick advertisements are designed to produce a sight based pseudo-faith in whatever is being sold. The problem with a sight based pseudo-faith is that it is easily convinced to give a thing a try, but rapidly evaporates unless results are seen immediately. True faith comes from believing God before you see any physical evidence of His promise. That feeling of “I can’t do it” loses its sting when it is seen in the light of the Gospel for what it truly is….nothing more than a reminder of our total dependence on Christ our Redeemer. A life lived in one’s own strength is full of weakness even for the strongest man. As we grow in the knowledge of God, our dependence on the indwelling Spirit of Christ becomes greater and greater while our confidence and dependence on anything else becomes less and less. To exchange my weakness for Thy strength? So be it Lord! I humbly accept my total dependence on my God with joy, thanksgiving, and praise. There is no independence without a total dependence on God. Settle the issue once and for all…everything that is contrary to the word of God amounts to a lying vanity. It doesn’t matter how physically real something may be, “Thus saith the Lord…” that is enduring truth. All that offends is destined for the fire. 

Question

Why is faith in God necessary?

Answer

Faith is necessary because it allows us to choose (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). The day will come when each of us will no longer have a choice about whether or not to bow before the throne of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who choose to have faith in God during this present life will be rewarded (Hebrews 11:6), and those who refuse will be lost forever (Hebrews 2:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:11-12; Matthew 13:40-43). Knowing our place in this lower animal kingdom is easy to see, but knowing our place in the higher spiritual kingdom of God requires faith (Ephesians 2:1-9; John 3:30; Psalm 107:2; 2 Corinthians 13:12-14).

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

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant that all of us may be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rest From the Days of Adversity

3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5 They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
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. Psalm 94:3-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

To play with things void of the knowledge of God, is like a child playing with fire. It is far better to prevent the injury than it is to go find treatment after having been burned. We have the freedom to watch anything we like, but not everything we can feed the mind with is nutritious. The slothful child refuses to redeem the time, resting without being tired, and vainly going from one entertainment fix to the next. Enough of such childish things! We all have the need for our hearts to be filled with the love of God, our minds to be fixed with faith in God, and our hands to be diligent as we work toward the hope of our eternal reward in Christ Jesus. The fear of the Lord is a precious gift. To understand it, pray for a revelation of the holiness of God. Pray unceasingly, believe whole-heartedly, and He will keep you enduring joyfully through all the uncertainties of this perishing world. 

Question

How do we put away childish things?

Answer

Consider the end of every choice as to whether it draws you closer to God or pushes you further away (Proverbs 9:10; Ephesians 4:17-18). There are many activities of this world that are believed to be harmless, but they are actually sugar-coated poison pills of folly (Proverbs 7:4-27; Isaiah 65:11-12; Psalm 10:4; Matthew 3:1-12). You will know them by their fruit (Matthew 7:16-20). Learn from the Lord and take no backward step (Joshua 1:8-9; Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45; Matthew 11:27-30). Remember Lot’s wife (Psalm 85:8; 1 Corinthians 13:11-13; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Joshua3:9-10; Jude 1:24-25). 

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

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant that all of us may be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Left Up Your Heads

1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. Psalm 24 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There will be mornings when you wake up feeling like an ugly duckling still in its shell. So what? Nowhere in the Bible does it say we should let our feelings rule us. Quite the opposite. The Bible commands us to walk by faith, not by sight. This beautiful truth will set the swan within you free. In the beginning, the spiritual baby duck has a faith that needs to seek and strive, but it can often seem like there is little progress. Continue wrestling and keep pecking until you breakthrough! Cast down every doubt and uncertainty. Counter with praise and thanksgiving for the goodness and faithfulness of God. Hold on to the knowledge that God means to bless you and keep praising until God grants the assurance of faith that allows your soul to rest with a confident expectation that He has granted the blessing. And then look to Him, even in the mist of contrary winds and the utter darkness of this world swirling all around you, to perform that which He has promised. Have faith in God, trust Him, and He will never fail you. Joyous is the day when at last we are brought to the full assurance that we can trust God to fulfill His every promise.

Question

How do we get the assurance of faith?

Answer

The hinderance is completely on our side (Hebrews 10:22), God is more willing to grant us the full assurance of both His present and future salvation than we are willing to receive it (Romans 8:32; Isaiah 65:2; James 4:1-3). The assurance comes from right motives (Proverbs 16:3), and fighting through the shell of this flesh-oriented world in which we live (Romans 12:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 10:35-36), which is the necessary testing of our faith (1 Peter 4:12; James 1:2-4). Fight back with affirming your complete trust in your Redeemer in the mist of every storm of doubt (Galatians 2:20). The good fight of faith is won only by steadfastly holding on to the fact that without Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5), and thereby choosing to rely on God alone (Matthew 11:25-30, 16:24-25; 2 Peter 1:2-4). When we accept our weakness (Psalm 115:1) and experientially learn to have no confidence in our own natural strength (Philippians 3:1-3), then can God grant us the assurance of faith that makes us strong (Philippians 3:4-8; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Jude 1:21-25).

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

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant that all of us may be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God the Rock of My Salvation

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

Action and intent are always parts of the same tree. The action being the fruit and the intent being the root. The tree is planted in the soil created by the desires of the heart. The Word of God is the seed, but a hard unbelieving heart will produce only the rotten fruit and weeds of this present world. This is true regardless of whether we believe it to be so or not. The love of God (with no other preference before Him) is the condition, the proof, and the reward all in one. Try it and see for yourself. Give Jesus all, and you will get all in return. Let all the intentions of the heart be pure. Let the redeemed of the Lord thirst for the living God and joyfully say, “come, Lord Jesus, come!

Question

What are the flaming darts of the wicked?

Answer

The flaming darts, which if left unchecked will set soul ablaze with coveting (wrong desires) or worry/doubt/fear, are suggestive thoughts based on the circumstances we see, the events we hear about, or the bodily sensations we feel (Romans 7:7; Matthew 4:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:7). What the mind accepts as true, the heart believes, and what the heart believes the body will manifest (Romans 1:16-32; 2 Corinthians 3:5-18). It is righteousness in the heart and the professing of truth with the mouth that sets the enemy fleeing from the fire (Romans 10:5-11; Revelation 11:3-5). Therefore, he who controls what the heart believes is like the captain directing the tiny rudder that controls the entire ship (James 3:3-4; Psalm 32:9-11; 1:1-2). Give not this power over you to the enemy (Ephesians 4:21-30). Therefore, submit yourself to God, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10-18; Hebrews 10:35-39; James 4:7; Romans 8:28-39; Ephesians 3:14-21).

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

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant that all of us may be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Remember the Benefits of the Lord

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
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 103:1-5, 10-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Faith must be mixed with the Word to bring forth the bricks to build the body, which is the temple of the living God. Let us not do this with the vain desire to have others look at us with admiration. This will only feed the self-life by inflaming it with pride. Rather, let us labor to be strong in body, soul, and spirit as good stewards and keepers of that which by the blood of Jesus Christ is set apart to be holy. The will must bridle the body to keep it from all that would defile it in order to maintain purity of heart. And this we can do by the grace of Jesus Christ. Shun forever all the ungodly ways of this perishing world. Jesus is coming again soon. Be ready. We are closer today than we were yesterday. Let nothing keep you from your everlasting crown.

Question

What is excellence?

Answer

True excellence isn’t about being better than someone else ( Corinthians 4:7), true excellence is about being the best version of you that God created you to be (Colossians 3). We are blessed so that God may bless others through us (Matthew 25:31-46). Begin with prayer and go to work (Hebrews 4:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 12:1-3; Revelation 22:17-21).

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.

Saved in This Life for the Next

1 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. Psalm 91:1-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Looking and feeling good is great, but holy thoughts and righteous deeds are of far greater importance. Learn to enjoy what it takes. Make the accomplishment of the daily work your goal, and the abiding presence of the Lord your reward. Do this and motivation will never be a problem for you. Stop worrying about tomorrow. It is enough to deal with the problems of today. God has commanded us to be strong and courageous. Have faith in God to be strong, and trust in the Word to be courageous. Love will call you to it.

Question

Why is it so easy to fall into negative thinking?

Answer

Our negativity bias stems from a biological mechanism designed to increase our odds for surviving danger (Psalm 49:20). Negative thinking that keeps you from trying to play with a full grown grizzly bear is a good thing, but living in fear and unbelief is worse than being eaten by a bear (Revelation 21:8). Don’t just let unprofitable negative thinking run amuck in the mind like little foxes with tails on fire (Judges 15:4-5). We cannot stop the birds from swooping down to steal the sacrifice, but we can chase them away (Genesis 15:9-11). Evaluate all thoughts for consistency with love, hope, and faith (2 Corinthians 10:4-6; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 6:10-18). Since the mind can only attend to a few things at a time (Philippians 4:8), practice rejecting all thoughts that cannot be framed by faith in God, the love of God, and hope in God (Romans 15:13; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; 1 Peter 5:6-10; 2 Corinthians 13:14).  

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.

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.