Night Prayer
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Inspiration
Mary had been given good news and a great honor, having been blessed with the joy of bringing Jesus into the world. Yet, she remained humble, recognizing that all power and authority belonged to God. And God would use the humble to exalt Himself and reveal His power. And all of this to His glory!
Prayer
Lord, like Mary, we rejoice in Your power. You humble the proud and You lift us the lowly. You have proven Your love and Your might over and over with everything that You do. Thank You for calling me to be Your child and Your servant. Instill a humble heart in me so that You, and You alone, may be glorified in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotion
I Have Hope
Frances Taylor
We don't often think about reading the Book of Lamentations. This passage, however, is one that we can all relate to at one time or another. My son died fourteen years ago and his burial plot is a very old one that had been in the family for over 80 years. He is buried in the front row of the cemetery and I drive by it almost every day and often several times a day. It's easy for me to remember the misery, the wormwood and the gall. I miss him and always will, but I have hope as does the writer of Lamentations because of God's loving kindness, and my faith in the promises of Christ that we will be reunited with Christ in eternity. My pain is mine and yours is yours, but there is no escaping suffering in life; and for some, hope is lost. There are those who will turn away from God for a time or permanently because they can't get past the anger, the pain or the hopelessness. The writer or writers of Lamentations knew pain. They had witnessed the ...
Morning Prayer
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Inspiration
Jesus was the "corn of wheat" that died that he might bring forth much fruit to God, bringing many sons to glory. But believers can also be like him in this. First, because "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. " But second, because when we die to self and live for God, it can be used of God in winning souls to him.
Prayer
Help me, Lord, to die to self that I might live to you. Let me be a light to others who do not know you, to witness to them your Gospel, and to those who do know you, to encourage them to press on living for you. Amen.
