Devotion for Wednesday, September 4, 2019

“Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who
plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for
war.  They sharpen their tongues like a
serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips.(Psalm 140:1-3)

The Lord has set into motion the
way of all things.  This age is filled
with those who seek to do things on their own terms.  Be guided by the goodness of the Lord and His
ways.  Do not follow after what the world
says, but by what the Lord has already spoken. 
Know that in the Lord alone is all life; for He is the source of all
things.  Do not be poisoned by this world
or its ways.

Lord, You have shown Your goodness and written of it in Your Word.  Where I am wrong, show me.  Where I have adopted the way of this world,
lead me back into truth.  Guide me
according to Your goodness to see that in You alone is the hope and glory for
all ages.  Lead me to speak what is right
and guide me to do what is pleasing in Your sight that I may now and always
abide in You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead
the way.  Without You we would all be
lost.  You alone are the way.  Guide me in the way You have established by
grace that I would walk with You now and always.  Lead me in Your goodness to speak only what
is right and fitting.  Guide me to be
uplifted by Your Spirit that I would not be caught up in the ways of violent
men, but abide in Your peace.  Amen.




Devotion for Tuesday, September 3, 2019

“I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me,
and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in
the way everlasting.”  (Psalm 139:22-24)

In the mixed up way in which
this world thinks, we often think of our faith in terms of the world rather
than in terms of what the Lord has said. 
Christians do not hate others. 
Hate the sin, the wickedness and the actions of wicked men.  Yes, each person is loved by God, but do not
let the world get into your thinking so that you would accept what is
unacceptable.  In other words, lean on
the Lord mightily.

Lord, I do not know how to do this. 
Yes, I know how to become sinfully angry at my neighbor.  I know how to think wicked thoughts.  But lead me away from my thoughts and into
Your thoughts.  Lead me to love You and
all that You have created such that I see things through Your eyes.  Guide me to know Your goodness by practicing
it and doing what is pleasing in Your sight.

Lord Jesus, You demonstrated the
full range of emotions in Your ministry. 
You have created us in Your image. 
Teach me what is right and what is wrong.  Teach me the places to be and where not to be
that it would be You who defines my faith and not the wicked in this
world.  Guide me according to Your
goodness to come into Your grace and mercy and reside there all the days of my
life.  Amen.

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Devotion for Monday, September 2, 2019

“Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!  Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty
men.  For they speak against You
wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. 
Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?  And do I not loathe those who rise up against
You?”  (Psalm 139:19-21)

What do we do with the reality
of the anger that rises up within us?  Is
there a place to loathe and hate what is wrong and leads people astray?  Do not be afraid of the righteous indignation
which belongs to God.  He will avenge
Himself in due course.  But do not be
afraid to join in indignation against those who rail against the Lord and kill
our children for the world’s cause.

Lord, grant that I would have discerning eyes and a willingness to be
bold for the sake of the truth.  Lead me
always in Your truth that I would abide in Your presence and live Your holy
cause in this hostile world.  Lead me
away from what has led me astray and closer into Your will and way.  Guide me according to Your Word to live out
the promises You have given me now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You walked through
the hostility of this world and paved the narrow way for those who
believe.  Guide me as one of Your own
that I would walk in Your footsteps and be led by Your Spirit in the way of
truth.  Help me now and always to see
through the fog of this age and live into the hope and promise that You give me
by grace.  May I learn to be led, even
emotionally, by You and Your Word.  Amen.

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Devotion for Sunday, September 1, 2019

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in
number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”  (Psalm 139:17-78)

Upon what do you meditate?  Many in the world think upon the things that
excite them or lead them in the ways of the world.  Do not be led by this world’s ways, but by
the goodness of the Lord.  Come then and
live into the promises and hope that He gives to those who turn to Him.  Live into the life the Lord offers and
rejoice in the goodness of His grace and mercy, for His love alone endures
forever.

Lord, I am distracted by so many things.  Lead me in the way of life that I would
always go according to Your will and not the will of this world.  Help me to be thankful for what You have
shown me.  May I learn to meditate upon
Your goodness and the reality of Your presence through all that You have
created.  Guide me into the deeper life
of one who lives by fath.

Holy Spirit, lead my heart to see
through what this world offers in order to see the goodness and mercy that is
all around me.  Guide me according to
Your eternal will to live into the promises You have given me.  Help me walk in the way of Jesus and to not
be led astray by the ideas of this world. 
Keep me now and always abiding in You and You in me that I may walk the
way of faithfulness.  Amen.

Photo by Elijah Hiett on Unsplash