Devotion
I Will Praise His Name
Frances Taylor
How do I praise God? God doesn't want an animal sacrifice he wants a sacrifice of the heart. He wants a joyous heart, a heart that bursts into song because it can't help itself. A heart so full of gratitude that song is the only way a body can express it. I love music; I love to sing the songs of praise in church. I might not have the best voice but it's the one God gave me so he must think it's good enough. There is something about music that lifts the soul. It's no wonder that the psalms are music. In fact, this psalm even tells us which piece of music to sing it to – "Lilies!" When we think about it, some of the most glorious music was written for religious reasons: Handel's Messiah is but one example. When we listen to the anthems of many nations, we see how they give thanks and praise to God. Whether we raise our voices in song or not, what is important is that we raise our voices in thanks and praise to God. Our prayers acknowledge that we know who is in charge, to whom we owe everything and who deserves our praise.
Prayer
Loving God, you have given us everything we have and you deserve our thanks and praise, may we raise our voices daily to your name. Amen.
Devotion
The Transfiguration
Frances Taylor
The feast of the Transfiguration is considered important enough to celebrate it twice a year, once on the second Sunday of Lent and today. In March, I concentrated on how Jesus reveals himself to us; today I would like to think about the apostles and their reaction and to what ours might have been. Peter tells Jesus that it was good for them to be there. The week before, Peter had declared that Jesus was the Christ, but had rejected the idea that he would suffer and die. When they come down from the mountain, Jesus will be approached to heal a boy whom the other disciples had failed to heal. Jesus was giving them a foretaste of the resurrection. They must have been amazed at Jesus as well as the appearance of Moses and Elijah. They wanted to stay there at the top of the mountain. They were enclosed in a cloud and heard the voice of God; of course they wanted to stay there! We can't stay at the top of the mountain any more than the apostles ...
Morning Prayer
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Inspiration
Without fear of Jehovah-God, there is not true wisdom. For when you see "LORD" in all capitals in the KJV, that is the translation of the Hebrew word for Jehovah. And there is not true understanding without a true knowledge of the Holy One undergirding it. If we are wrong about God, we are in all important respects, "wrong about everything. "
Prayer
You, O Great Jehovah, are the only true God, and without fearing and knowing about you, all other knowledge is made faulty. And without knowing you personally, pursuit of knowledge is futile and unable to help us. Let us not be like those who are "ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, " but let us delve ever deeper into your truths. Amen.
Night Prayer
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Inspiration
God planned our redemption from the very beginning. He explains that He is the only God and salvation is the only way to receive eternal life. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. We depend on His love and strength to overcome our sinful nature. He is our shelter, refuge, and perfect dwelling place. We accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and continue to grow closer to God each day.
Prayer
Dear Father, We are humbled in Your glory. Please forgive our sin, and guide us closer to You daily. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
