Devotion
Crying Out For God’s Help And Mercy
Frances Taylor
This begs the question – Do I cry out for God's help and mercy? It's hard to ask for help when we live in such a do-it-yourself world. We seem to have bought into the idea that we can do it all and do it without help. Just look at all the books on the subject! But there are situations when we have to admit that we need help. The older I get, the more I realize this. The more I recognize the need for God and others. The more I recognize the need for forgiveness as sins of the past come more to the forefront of memory. We all cry out to God when people we love are ill or in trouble when we lose a family member or friend, but do we ask for healing of resentments, of past hurts? Do we reach out to God even in the day-to-day needs we experience? Are we aware of the times in our lives that God has been merciful towards us? God is not doing this because we are faithful to him, but because HE is faithful to us. God's mercy is not earned, it is a free gift. When we cry out for God's help, we sometimes are directed to someone within the community for the help we need. How often we don't even recognize that God has answered our prayer! I know that my morning prayer often begins with a thank you for another day and a plea for help to get through it! God cares about us so much more than we can ever imagine. It's not only okay to ask for help, it's what God wants us to do, and who wants to disappoint God?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for your faithfulness to us. How often we forget and take your gifts for granted. Give us the grace to reach out to you for mercy, for help in our need, and for forgiveness for all the times we have not been faithful to you. Amen.
Devotion
Let us Bless The Lord
Frances Taylor
This is one of the psalms attributed to David. He is thanking God for rescuing him and promising to bless God at all times. He asks us to join him in his praises. He says his soul shall boast in the Lord. St. Paul tells us that we, too, should only boast in the Lord because it is he who always saves us. So, today, make a list. Make a list of everything that you are thankful for. Make a list of every success you have had and every failure you have survived. Make a list of every person who has helped you grow as a person and as a Christian. Now, look at it. Each of the items, events or persons on these lists are blessings from God. Either now, or before the day is over, bless and thank God for each of them. Ask God, also, to bless each of the people you have listed that you might be a blessing for them. If some of them are now with God, they would still like to hear you say thank you. God is so good to us all the time, and as one of my favorite ...
Morning Prayer
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Inspiration
Jesus tried to minister to the people in his town, but they rejected that he was the son of God. They only saw him as the son of a carpenter. There are many other Jews, who were referred to as God's own, who rejected Jesus Christ as the son of God, too. This is how Jesus ended up being crucified. But this did not deter Christ from His mission. He held nothing against anyone who rejected them. He forgave them and prayed that they would be saved.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for your son, Jesus Christ, who loved us so much, he did not hold it against any man when they wronged Him. Lord, I pray that I can exemplify this kind of love in my life too. I cannot do that without your help, Lord. May you help me to follow the example your son set for me, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
