Tag: spiritual

faith

Devotional for February 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Teach Me Good Judgement

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Psalm 119:65-72 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Let us first take heed for our own souls, then God can use us to bless others. Pay close attention to your thoughts with constant diligence. Stand firm in your faith by rejecting all thoughts that are not consistent with trust in the name of the Lord. We are not to be overcome by evil, rather we are commanded to overcome evil with good. Therefore, pray, train, eat, sleep, and repeat. Hold to these basic fundaments like a farmer who doesn’t dig up the seeds that have been sown to see if they are growing. Let the word of God grow richly in your heart. Be not afraid, only believe and trust the Lord to bring forth the promised harvest in its due season.

Today’s Bible Reading

Genesis 34; Mark 5

Job 1; Romans 5

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  The Book of Common Prayer

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 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.