Tag: prayer

faith

Devotional for December 20

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Eye of the Lord is Upon Those Who Fear Him

13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Psalm 33:13-22 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Exercise is important, but do we perfect the body for personal pride, the adoration of women, and the praise of men? May God forbid. Just as the Lord had need of the donkey, we have need of the body in this life. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. Therefore, we are commanded by God not to be conformed to it. Each of us is to present the body as a living sacrifice set apart as a chosen vessel in the service of the Lord. The Lord is our shepherd. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. If we believe that He does not speak to us, we call Him a liar. God forbid we do this just because there has always been those who falsely claimed to have heard Him speak. This fact in no way invalidates the Scriptures about the Good Shepherd speaking to His sheep. How can we hear if we don’t believe He speaks? There are many strange voices in the world today to be sure. Some say do this, some say do that, some say live like this, and some say live like that. We all need to decide who we are going to trust. First choose to believe the Word of God. Next hold on by faith through the testing of it, and the assurance of knowing that we know Him who is Faithful and True comes later. This is the divine order. We come to know the voice of people close to us by the character, quality, and tone of his or her voice. We come to know the Lord in just the same way.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 24; Revelation 11

Zechariah 7; John 10

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 18

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

You, O God, Have Heard Me

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Psalm 61:1-5 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Life in this present world is just preparation for what will last forever. Even if one should live to be 120 years old, this life would still represent just one tiny grain of sand on the endless beach of eternity. Not everyone believes this though. Unbelievers will think it strange when you don’t care for talking about the filth they have been watching, or the rhythm and profanity they continually blast in their cars that can be heard 50 feet away. It has been said that birds of a feather flock together. It is true. Thus, it is necessary to leave the chickens pecking around in the dirt behind, if you would soar with the eagles. Leave all those so-called friends that want you to join them in poisoning the body, polluting the mind, and defiling the spirit. Woe unto those who refuse to believe. If they repent not, only darkness and suffering shall be their portion. The end will suddenly come upon them like a thief in the night, when the last trumpet sounds, the books will be opened, and then everyone will be rewarded accordingly. Woe to them, but blessed are those who have been converted by belief in Jesus Christ kept with a child-like faith. They shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free. This is the promise for this life, and in the next there will be a warm welcome into paradise for all eternity.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 21; Revelation 9

Zechariah 5; John 8

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 17

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Reap with Shouts of Joy

126 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Pray, because everything depends on God. Work, because everything depends on us. These are NOT contradictory statements. They are opposites sides of the same profound truth. Our part is to pray and work confidently knowing that all power belongs to God.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 19-20; Revelation 8

Zechariah 4; John 7

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.