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faith

Devotional for December 16

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

113 Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 113 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Oil and water don’t mix. The only way to mix two such incompatible substances is for one of them to change. Since God is perfect and does not change, that means we are to come to God as we are and know that we are expected to change. If we come to God half stepping, wanting to follow Jesus while still living to please self, that will not work. The beginning of the necessary total life transformation in Christ doesn’t happen by growth. One can grow in grace, but one cannot grow into grace. Just as a flower in the crack of a sidewalk cannot grow into the flowerbed. It must first be planted in the flowerbed and then it can grow in it. God will grant this grace of being planted in Christ the moment we ask for it and then accept it as fact by faith. Once having done this, the next thing to do is to throw off the old man at once and turn wholeheartedly to the Lord for complete deliverance. Who would buy a house and then allow the seller to retain possession and use of it as if the seller still owned it? No one, and not even a single room would be given over to the seller. Neither does God. We have been bought by the broken body and precious blood of Jesus Christ. Not so we can have the right to do as we please, but rather so that we can be adopted as obedient children of God. Christ freely gave us all. And if we would have Christ, we must freely give Him all. Know that your offering of yourself is accepted by God as soon as you give it. Place your all on the alter before God and take none of it back The transfer of the title deed is done. Accept this now by faith. This is the glorious beginning of experiential gospel. All who call on the name of the Lord, and remain in faith, will in due time attain to the full measure of it.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 18; Revelation 7

Zechariah 3; John 6

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

Purify my conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in me a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 14

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Power Belongs to God

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 62:5-14 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The cares of this life can at times be too heavy a burden to bear as everyone of us sooner or later learns. When you reach the end of your strength to endure, stop fighting, fall down, and cry unto the Lord for mercy. Sometimes the fastest way up is down. We enter into the rest of God only when we stop striving in our own strength. The first step to victory is to enter through the strait gate, which is Jesus Christ. Then do the outside work of denying self, picking up your cross, and following Jesus Christ with a whole hearted submission to the will of God as revealed in the Holy Bible. Getting the fields ready is preparing the heart by uprooting every weed of unbelief and nurturing the good seed of the Word with steadfast faith. Outside renewal grows from the inside, just as wheat grows from the seed within the ground. Knowing all the details about how and when the harvest will come isn’t important. It is enough to know that first comes the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn within the ear. In a like manner, better physical circumstances grow from a spiritual center by faith. Behold, now is the field ready for the bountiful harvest. The harvest is the work of God, and to reap we must dare to believe.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 16; Revelation 5

Zechariah 1; John 4

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

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 11

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

His Mercy Is Great

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

We should never mistake not being able to hear God as His approval or disapproval. The mistake of the unbeliever who practices the things the Bible speaks against is in assuming that it’s okay, simply because the judgement of God is delayed. It is likewise easy for the believer to mistake the difficultly of the way, as signs showing the disapproval of God. When the clouds of doubt surround you and the night seems very dark, when God seems distant and you can’t see His hand anywhere, there is only one thing to do. Make sure you are in accordance with the written Word and then hold to the course God has set you on despite the difficulty of the way. Faith must be tested. Thoughts and feelings are the reigns of the heart. The will and faith are the hands that must hold the reigns. To wait on the Lord means to keep the thoughts and feelings in check by the will and faith alone, through the weeping of the night, until God sends the joy that comes in the morning.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 11-12; Revelation 2

Zephaniah 3; John 1

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

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 10

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Praise God for His Word and Providence

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:
8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Psalm 147:5-11 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Slick advertisements call out on every street corner that you only need the secrets of this or that high profile celebrity to finally get things done. Do you have the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit or not? If you do, then you already have more than you could ever possibly need. Dare to believe the gospel. Give thanks in all things. Give thanks not just in good times, for even non-believers sometimes practice gratitude, but give thanks to God in bad times as well. For it is written in the holy Scriptures, all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. Just how bad things will work together for good is not our concern. It is the enemy who wants us to think so and lean on our own understanding. Rather than walking by sight, learn to know and trust your God. Nothing takes God by surprise. He has already worked out everything to conform to His good and perfect will. Praise Him in the mist of sorrows, and waste no time reliving past vanities with fondness. In this world there will be sorrow, but God has promised to always turn tears into joy for all those who love Him.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 10; Revelation 1

Zephaniah 2; Luke 24

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

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 9

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

I Will Sing Praise

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Sometimes you just won’t feel like praising the Lord. That is a sure indication of exactly when you need to praise the Lord the most. It is easy to praise the Lord when you are feeling great and everything is going well, but be quick to realized that when everything seems to be falling apart as an opportune moment to praise God for who He is. The sacrifice of praise can only be offered to God when feelings and circumstances are less than favorable. All of creation groans waiting for the manifestation of the children of God, and our taking hold of the royal priesthood to which we are called. Nothing is accomplished without consistency though. Don’t anchor consistency to feelings or circumstances. These often change like the wind. This is why we are commanded to walk by faith, not by sight. The time will surely come when the wind is contrary. Jesus Christ has won the war for us, and praising God in the mist of the fight is how winning our personal battles gets done.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 9; Jude 1

Zephaniah 1; Luke 23

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

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 8

Bruce Coleman2 Comments

The Lord Upholds the Righteous

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. Psalm 37:10-17 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The only true set back is to quit. Everything else, distractions, detours, and obstacles are common to every journey. Being able to give thanks and praise to God locates you spiritually, as surely as longitude and latitude pin points your location physically. Those who find no gratitude in the past are often tempted to lose hope for the future. Learn to live in the will and not in the emotions. Take no counsel from your faithless feelings that would rage like an unruly little child. Such flaming darts take advantage of difficult external circumstances, internal aches of the body, or mental fatigue of the mind. We do well to remember the command of our Lord to possess our soul in patience, and wait on the Lord to calm the seas without and the unruly child within. Temporary circumstances, aches, and fatigue in no way alter the truth of God. Sing praises to God when the winds are favorable, and pull out the oars and row, row, row with praises to God when they’re not. Disruptions caused by the unexpected are to be expected. The destination is only reached by making adjustments whenever needed to stay on course. Be steady and always pray for the needed grace to remain in the center of God’s will.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 8; 3 John 1

Habakkuk 3; Luke 22

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

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for December 6

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Take Delight in the Lord

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalm 37:1-7 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Deciding who you are going to trust is important, because we all must trust something, someone, or self. Blessed are all those who trust in the Lord because the grace of God is the only true power for lasting change. Seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is the one sure path to peace, happiness, health, and eternal life.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 6:12-42; 1 John 5

Habakkuk 1; Luke 20

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

Almighty God, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for December 5

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

My Soul Thirsts for God

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. Psalm 42:1-7 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The world would have you believe a happy meal consists of a burger, shake, and fries. The truth, however, is there is no lasting happiness without the knowledge of God, the Bread of Life, and the Living Water. God is love, Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life, and the indwelling Holy Spirit is the Living Water. When the Bible says that God dwells within us and we dwell in Him, we are to believe it. We are to accept it as fact by faith alone. Not based on what we think, feel, or see, but simply because the Word of God says it is so. To do otherwise is unbelief and amounts to tying up the truth and hiding it away in a napkin. Jesus is the chief cornerstone laid in Zion. Blessed is the one who believes in Him. If you want to reach your high heavenly calling, cut loose the unbelief that drags you down, and trust in the Lord Jesus with your whole heart. Dare to believe the gospel and your heart will be strengthen by grace.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 5-6:11; 1 John 4

Nahum 3; Luke 19

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

Almighty God, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for December 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Tremble at the Presence of the Lord

1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 114 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Good feelings are like sugar. Sweet feelings are pleasing to the palate of the soul, but not essential. Right thoughts, on the other hand, provide the essential nutrients absolutely necessary for a soul to thrive. If the will is set firmly in faith to believe the truth, fullness of joy will come to the believer sooner or later. Some seem to be sweep up into the third heaven almost immediately, while others seem to linger in the lowlands for many months and years. If the promised joy is currently missing, do NOT take a backward step. God means to bless you in His perfect timing. Continue to fan the flame of love until God fully sets your heart on fire. This is the testimony we have from countless saints who came before us. Faith in God alone is enough to always be content. Pray first. The grace of God is abundantly more than sufficient for every need. Everyone born again has accepted the grace of God for salvation. The second touch of Christ is learning to continue in His grace. Jesus Christ our Lord is the vine, we are the branches, and God our Father is the gardener. Grace is the precious sap that flows from our heavenly vine causing us to produce and bare much fruit. How much is up to God. One thing for sure, He is able to cause you to bloom wherever He has planted you.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 1; 1 John 1

Micah 7; Luke 16

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

Almighty God, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.