Tag: proverbs

faith

Devotional for April 4

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Jesus is Lord

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Age is much more than just a number. The perfect age has less to do with the number of years and all to do with being old enough for the vain desires of youth to have passed away while still being young enough to pursue what is really important in life. Work hard, recover well, and grow stronger. The maxim “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is a half-truth. It is just as likely that what doesn’t kill you will actually leave you weaker. It’s only what you can recover from that actually makes you stronger. Falling down, distractions, detours, obstacles, and other such things are common to every journey. Such pitfalls often take us by surprise, but nothing surprises God. Set your affections on the things above and He will keep you in perfect peace through both seasons of ease and difficulties. (Proverbs 29:15; Proverbs 22:6; Ecclesiastes 4:13; Proverbs 24:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 1 Peter 4:12; Philippians 4:10-13, 3:13-14; Revelation 3:14-22; John 16:33; 1 John 5:4; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 7; Psalms 7-8

Proverbs 22; 1 Thessalonians 1

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

faith

Devotional for March 24

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

It Is Written

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:6-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Strive for true excellence. No one takes that building in a single bound though. It’s enough to be able to climb one step at a time to reach the top. No one need wait to be happy as long as you can be satisfied with accumulating small improvements on the way to the top. Be happy with doing your best today, expect to be a little bit better tomorrow, and don’t get discouraged when it you hit a plateau or stumble backward a bit. Get back on the path and move forward. Growth most often happens in spurts, not a straight line. The reality is that true excellence happens only after consistently working for it over a long period of time. Let happiness come and go as it pleases. Hold to faith and patience from beginning to end. (Proverbs 20:21; Proverbs 13:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Mark 4:26-29; Luke 8:11-15; John 4:36; Hebrews 10:36; James 5:7-11; Romans 8:31-39; Galatians 6:9; Philippians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 35; John 12

Proverbs 11; Ephesians 4

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