Morning Prayer
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Inspiration
What are your thoughts focusing on today? Stress at work, a relationship, maybe a friend? Try to set your mind on the grace that God will give you when you meet Him in Heaven. We should eagerly await getting to see Jesus face to face. How might your actions and focus in a day change if you are focusing on honoring God before you die and see Him in heaven – or before He comes in the clouds? Focus on things above, not on things of this earth, and you will see a difference in your days.
Prayer
Father God, help me to focus on Jesus' coming and on meeting Him instead of on my earthly troubles. Set my mind on You instead of the silly things I focus on. Help me to think of You every day and to pray all the time. I want to honor You with my days and live each day as though it were my last. Focus my thoughts on You and help me to not get distracted. I don't want You to be an afterthought; You are worthy of focusing on. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Night Prayer
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Inspiration
Sin will enslave us and become the master of our lives if allowed. Sin binds us in darkness, and we become submissive to our fears. Jesus is a light in the dark, and we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Sin has no control over us! We have repented our sinful ways and surrendered our lives to the will of God. Serving Him replaces a life of misery with joy and peace.
Prayer
Dear God, we ask forgiveness for our transgressions. We surrender our lives to You and will serve You instead of our sinful desires. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
Are You Wise or Foolish?
Frances Taylor
Today's gospel concerns a group of bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom to come and whether or not they will be prepared. Five are pretty sure that the bridegroom will show up when expected and so do the least they need to do and the other five decide that something may come up and want to be prepared just in case. What about ourselves? Whether you are sick or healthy today, you don't know what tomorrow brings.
I remember when my father was ill. He would enter the hospital, then somehow rally and be sent home. When this happens more than once, it is easy to be lulled into a sense of false security and believe that he would always rally. That kind of thinking can make it harder when the final day comes. My son rarely had a sick day in his life and yet was cut off while riding his motorcycle and was dead before he even had a chance to be afraid. It has always been my hope that both were wise and had lived their lives prepared to meet the ...
