Devotion
Remember the marvellous works that He has done
David Jacobs
I am fairly patriotic towards America (most of the time). There is a famous song called "This Land is your Land" by Woody Guthrie. Most Americans probably know some of the words of this song. It mentions some of the important landmarks and aspects of America: California to New York, the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters. At the end of most verses, he sings, "this land was made for you and me." The end of the song, however, takes a darker turn. Guthrie mentions "No Trespassing" signs; he mentions the relief office; he mentions hungry people; then he asks, "Is this land made for you and me?" Few Americans know the end of this song, and what most consider as a patriotic and welcoming tune has some dark questions at the end.
The poem that David commands his associates to use to praise God is more welcoming.
Prayer
God does not consider where you are from, who you are, how much money you make, or what color your skin is. He is the creator of Heaven and Earth; He is the judger of all things; all people should seek Him and rejoice in His name. The seas, fields, trees, and people all sing His praises. There is no division, no dark questions, only positivity and love. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel forever and ever. Amen!
Night Prayer
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Inspiration
Sin rules our lives until we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. When we invite Him into our lives, our old sinful heart dies, and God creates within us a new one, where sin no longer rules our life; God does! Our thoughts and actions begin to change because we no longer desire a sinful lifestyle. We joyfully devote our lives to serving Him and inviting others to understand His promise of salvation.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we are sinners born again and recreated to live according to Your will. We are grateful for Your love and the peace we experience by abolishing our old sinful self. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
Satan Has Been Defeated
Frances Taylor
Salvation and power have come with Christ and Satan has been defeated. Sin and death have been conquered by the actions of one man, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, both human and divine who came into the world to bring the Good News of salvation by living, dying and rising for us. As Christians we claim to believe this but our actions sometimes deny it. Unfortunately, people seem to resurrect Satan all the time. We allow him to lead us away from God, forgetting the way to the Father that is love, and giving in to Satan's path of hatred, anger, pride, lust, chaos and destruction.
Satan, of course, doesn't present these as bad things, he makes them seem attractive. He presents sin as goods to be desired, as things to make us happy or give us pleasure. It can be hard to stay on the path that leads to God when the world seems to be crowding us and pushing us off of it. How easy it is to forget the sacrifice that bought our freedom! Which of us ...
Morning Prayer
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Inspiration
It is right for us to defer to others and to rejoice with others when they have cause to rejoice over some blessing in their life, instead of sorrowing before them over some problem in our life. It is right also to weep with those who weep, showing compassion and feeling for them in their grief instead of "dancing joyfully before those who mourn" as if insensitive to their sorrow.
Prayer
Give me a discerning spirit, Lord, to know when to rejoice and when to weep. Let me show concern for others and their situation and life events instead of just focusing only on my own. Let me show true compassion and genuine joy in the right way and time to others. Amen.
