faith

Devotional for April 5

April 5, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

On Guard

1 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. Psalm 141:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

No champion is crowned by avoiding struggle. It takes heat and cold to temper steel. Too much luxury and ease are precursors to weakness. To fight for the sake of fighting is foolishness. To refuse to fight when a fight is called for is tragic. Victory favors the bold, but stripes are reserved for fools. When, why, and how we fight are far more important than winning every battle. Always fight the good fight, and even if you don’t win, you will never lose. (Ezekiel 37:1-14; Hebrews 4:12, 11:6; 2 Timothy 2:14-16; 2 Timothy 2:1-7; Proverbs 27:17; 1 Corinthians 9:23-27; Proverbs 19:29, 28:1; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Timothy 6:12; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Revelation 3:11-13, 22:20-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 8; Psalms 9

Proverbs 23; 1 Thessalonians 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give me this bread, that he may live in me, and I in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

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Devotional for April 2

April 2, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Forever Faithful is the Lord

1 O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 117 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Distance to the destination may be far. Still, joyfulness is a mode of travel and not to be delayed until reaching the destination. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, then will the joy of the Lord become your strength every step of the way. Elijah was a man just like us is a remarkable statement in the Scriptures considering how mightily he was used by God. Elijah is a shining testament to wholehearted devotion to God and the effectiveness of prayer. With these two swords there will be boundless joy in good times as well as joy in adversity, joy in suffering, and joy in difficulties. There is always joy in the presence of the Lord. Enter into His courts with praise and thanksgiving. Especially do this when times are tough. So, let us submit our understanding to the truth of God, submit our will to follow His precepts, and submit our affections to be more ready to pursue good rather than to experience sinful pleasures that only hinder His grace working within us. Submit to God and resist the inner temptations to revive the ways of the sinful nature in which we used to walk before we came to know Christ. To be who we are, is to seek to be now who we will be in heaven. (1 Kings 18:21-39; James 5:13-18; Colossians 3:15-17; Romans 8:28; Psalm 100:4, 16:7-11; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Luke 22:38)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 5; Psalms 3-4

Proverbs 20; Colossians 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 29

March 29, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

O God of Our Salvation

1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Psalm 65:1-9 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Distance to the destination doesn’t really matter when you can enjoy every step of the way. God is always in-charge. It’s easy to sit down and throw a pity party when things aren’t going your way. Life being full of ups and downs is such a common experience that it hardly needs to be stated. There will be days when you move forward with smashing through to a new personal best, just as there will be other days that set you a few steps back. Such is the pulse of life. Happiness comes from trusting the Lord through it all. Don’t anchor your consistency to feelings which change like the wind. The time will surely come when the wind is contrary. Be ready to put out the oars when necessary and go to work, holding onto the hope set forth in the Gospel. Be willing to love. Choose faith. Live in the light. Walk in the Spirit. This is the will of God for all who are called to be in Christ Jesus. (Isaiah 52:7; Psalm 30:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Luke 9:62; John 16:33; Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 2:14-16; Romans 8:28; 1 John 5:4-5; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Romans 8:35-39, 16:25-27)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 40; John 19

Proverbs 16; Philippians 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring us again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

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Devotional for March 25

March 25, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

God Is the Restorer Of My Soul

1 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5 For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.
6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. Psalm 71:1-6 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Pray for the means and the ends will take care of themselves. Set end goals in accordance to whether or not they glorify God. Let your motives for everything be for the love of God and doing what is pleasing to Him. The life hidden in Christ has Christ reigning as Lord and Master of the heart. Let the truth of God be our standard and rule for discerning right and wrong. Faith in the Word, prayer, and the grace of God are the means by which we bear the fruit of the Spirit. Such fruit produces all manner of good of works in the world that God predestinated us to do before the world began. There is no better news than the Gospel. (James 4:1-8; Matthew 6:27-34; John 15:1-8; Galatians 5:19-24; Matthew 16:24-26; Colossians 3:1-17; Ephesians 1:3-6, 2:10; Psalm 96:7-13)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 36; John 15

Proverbs 12; Ephesians 5

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 21

March 21, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Only You, Lord, Make Me Dwell in Safety

4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Tossing a coin into a wishing well pays for nothing. The difference between a goal and a wish is the willingness to pay the price to achieve it. Are you willing to eat better, work harder, and give up all that hinders? To pray for change and not put in the required work dishonors God. Repent and align your heart, head, and hands. The higher the goal, the higher the price. Count the cost before you begin, and be willing to consistently pay the price from start to end. Do this and you will be prepared to do every good work God has placed in your heart. (Proverbs 20:4, 26:15; Ecclesiastes 7:8; Luke 9:23, 14:27-35; 2 Timothy 2:3-22; Philippians 2:13-16; James 1:22-25; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 32; John 11

Proverbs 8; Ephesians 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant me the fullness of your grace, that I, running to obtain your promises, may become a partaker of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for March 19

March 19, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Our Promise for the Sure Mercies of David

89 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. Psalm 89:1-4 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Faith is spiritual muscle. Even the things of the natural world teach us that everything which is seen comes from what is unseen. The masterpiece cannot be seen on the blank canvas. The priceless work of art cannot be seen within the block of marble. The corn cannot be seen in the kernel of grain, and the fully grown adult cannot be seen in the baby. Only in the eyes of the artist, the sculptor, the farmer, and the Creator is that which is unseen commanded to come forth. Birth pains are sure to come, but don’t abort the vision. The journey of 1000 steps will never be reached if one turns back after taking only 999. (Hebrews 11:1-3; Proverbs 29:18; Hebrews 4:12; John 12:20-26; Hebrews 10:36-39, 4:2; Mark 4:24-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 30; John 9

Proverbs 6; Galatians 5

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 18

March 18, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Remember thy God

63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Psalm 63:1-7 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Wisdom teaches that the means are just as important as the ends. Remember to fight the good fight of faith. The world is full of distractions that if not guarded against will cause us to forget. Both sunshine and rain are given and allowed by God to make us stronger, but we must cooperate and engage in the battle. Stop wrestling with God and start resisting all that is contrary to His holiness. Be not like the seed sowed in the rocky soil, which had little roots. Neither be the hare that takes the shortcut to a free lunch, and ends up as the main course in the trapper’s stew. Much better to be like the tortoise that takes the straight path of consistent hard work, and in time has a sure reward. The value of reaching any great height comes from the patience and endurance it takes to reach it. The longer and harder the struggle, the greater and sweeter the victory. Press on. Victory awaits. (Luke 8:4-15; Hebrews 10:36; Proverbs 20:21; James 1:2-6; James 4:7; 1 John 5:4;1 Timothy 6:12; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 29; John 8

Proverbs 5; Galatians 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 15

March 15, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Blessed Be the Lord, the God of Our Salvation

7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. Psalm 68:7-10, 17-20 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The power of a laser comes from a single point of focus. The hungry cat that runs into the middle of the heard and gets distracted by every darting beast, is likely to remain hungry. Multitasking is for amateurs. To reach the heights of whatever mountain you want to climb requires the ability to focus. Use some horse sense, put on your blinders, and go to work. Distraction is a favorite tactic of the enemy to get you focused on what you see, and thereby upset the divine order of faith first then feelings. To remain firm, our thoughts must be continually refocused on faith in God rather than on what we see, what we imagine, and how we feel. To allow your thoughts to be tossed about by faithless feelings based on current circumstances, is to build on shifting sand. Stand firm in faith by depending on wisdom, the word of God, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let feelings be what they may. Make no requirement that feelings always be good and you will be free. (Hebrews 11:1-6; Matthew 7:24-29; Luke 9:61-62; Hebrews 10:38-39; John 8:31-32; James 1: 2-8; 2 Corinthians 11:2-3; Galatians 5:7-8; James 1:12-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 26; John 5

Proverbs 2; Galatians 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 13

March 13, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Open Your Mouth Wide, and God Will Fill It

8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalm 81:8-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

When the fire for fitness gets hot enough, it will burn away the lesser desires for things like eating lots of sugar, drinking too much alcohol, and living a life of leisure. Lasting change happens when the desire for God is fanned into a purifying flame of the heart. Catch fire and let the old unprofitable desires burn away. (Isaiah 55:7; Mark 12:28-30; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; Proverbs 16:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13; Matthew 11:25-30)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 24; John 3

Job 42; 2 Corinthians 12

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

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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