Tag: jesus

faith

Devotional for December 15

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Arise, O God

82 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. Psalm 82 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Focus makes both light a laser and faith a conqueror. Temptations are thoughts and feelings that distract the focus from some truth as revealed by the Word of God. We cannot walk on water if we focus on the wind and waves rather than our Lord Jesus Christ. Distraction keeps faith small by disconnecting the mind from God by scattering attention. In order to fix our eyes on Jesus, the first thing to do is willingly offer Him your whole being, and then you only need to believe that He accepts you. He has commanded us to deny self, pick up your cross, and follow Him. If we willingly choose to do this, we can be sure the offering will be accepted. Chose God’s way to meet His conditions and He will always fulfil His promises. Jesus Christ is faithful and true. He has given us eternal life and His presence enables us to live out His word. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing but sin, and our own highest good is to do His will. Blessed are all who come to know and do this.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 17; Revelation 6

Zechariah 2; John 5

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 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 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 4

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Send Out Your Light and Your Truth

3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:3-5 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Regardless of your current need, grab hold of a promise from God to meet it. Knowing the character of God provides the necessary reason upon which to base our expectation of the fulfillment of all the promises of the written Word of God. Continue therein, without giving in to the temptation to doubt, and the full assurance of faith will come. God is faithful and true. Therefore, His word is faithful and true. A paper check only has value when there is a bank that stands behind it, when the account number is valid, and it carries an authorized signature. How much more reliable is our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Saving faith cashes the checks and receives the promises. Unbelief does not comprehend the value of the promissory notes of God and never bothers to take them to the bank, stand in line, and cash them. Blessed is he who trusts in the Lord with all his heart, and is able to praise God for what he has asked for in prayer even before seeing it. Such a faith produces prayers that avail much.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 3-4; 1 John 3

Nahum 2; Luke 18

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.