Devotion
Eating from the wicked buffet
David Jacobs
Gang activity is a plague on much of the world. Like-minded people, usually with little bright future prospects, join together and commit illegal acts. Usually the more people that you get together, the easier it is to commit criminal acts and the worse these acts become.
One simple way to avoid evil is to reduce one's encounters with it, for like begets like. The Devil hates nothing more than to be ignored, greedy as he is for attention. But surrounded by evil, one is perhaps better off not only staying silent, but in actively refusing in cooperating or colluding with it. These can be as big as certain unethical corporations who boycotts, or as small as steering clear of groups of friends at school who are doing drugs. For evil is dark, thick and enveloping; but never shame in shining in Gods light, for at least trying to do right.
Prayer
God my Heavenly Father, protect me from darkness, lend me your light. Grant me your Love and guidance, and help me show my refusal to all that is evil. For I abhor sin my Lord, and wish to take no part in it; to show it no indulgence, to grant it no permission. Grant me your hand my shepherd, and lead me from the wilderness. Amen.
Devotion
The Important Things
Frances Taylor
What is important to you? This proverb tells us what is necessary if finding knowledge of God is what we are searching for. When this is compared to the search for silver or hidden treasures, we see how diligently the search should be. What we need to do first is to listen to God's word and to keep the commandments. If we look for wisdom with an understanding heart, we are on our way to finding God. But it seems as if not all roads will lead to this knowledge because we need discernment, we need to judge whether we are following the right path and with this comes understanding If we look carefully at this passage what we find is basically the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The only things missing are fortitude or courage, and reverence or piety. We know today that these gifts are there for us if we choose to ask the Spirit for them. They are there for us from the moment of our baptism. These gifts are there for more than just the knowledge of God, ...
Morning Prayer
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Inspiration
Wickedness and anxiety can be crippling for any person, and fear is the primary cause of it: fear of meeting others, failure, not living up to expectations, saying the wrong thing, and death. God loves us. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. " (2 Timothy 1:7) With God ever behind us, our anxieties can melt away. Our fear shall be changed to love. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. " (1 John 4:18) Believe in God, for all things are possible through him!
Prayer
Deliver me from evil my Lord! I will praise thy name! I aim to know thee and know that you will know my heart and thoughts. Lead me away from temptation merciful God, and lead me towards the path of the way everlasting. I submit myself to you, in any way that you see fit to use...
