Daily Devotion for September 1, 2015
Prayers
Scripture
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
A beautiful modern song, Miserere sung by Andrea Bocelli and John Miles.
Miserere, miserere, miserere, misero me,
Ma che mistero, e la mia vita,
Io sono il santo che ti ha tradito
Se c'e una notte buia abbastanza
Music and lyrics by Zucchero Fornaciari
Morning Praise
Blessed are you, Lord God: Blessed are you for ever. Holy is your name: Blessed are you for ever. Great is your mercy for your people. In the morning I cry out to you: Blessed are you for ever.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I praise you and give you glory: I bless you for calling me to be one of your holy people. Remain in my heart, and guide me in my love and service all of this day. Help me to shine your light before others and lead them to the way of faith. Holy Trinity of love, I praise you now and for ever.
For Damaged Pride
Oh mighty and loving God, help me to overcome the pride which creeps in around the corners of my mind like rain hammering on broken shingles and cracked walls, persistent and sly, wearing away defenses, flooding the basement, trying to destroy my love for others and my humility by rotting it away.
Especially help me when someone corrects me, Lord, and I am wrong, in part or whole; for I am apt to take offense and shame, where humility would have neither; and my mind tries to justify my words or deeds, no matter how much I am in error. Fill me with desire for truth and love, dear God, so that I can accept correction, both from you and from other people, seeking only truth and love. In Christ I pray,
Meditation
[The persistence of temptation.]
Prayer of Penitence
Almighty God, who does freely pardon all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in my contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; forgiving all my sins, and cleansing me from an evil conscience; through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. And turn my heart to your will at every moment, I pray.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
Proverbs 18:10-11
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.
Exodus 4:10-17 (ESV)
Moses' Staff
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”
Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”
Notes on the Scripture
Moses is such an odd figure, and we see here an exchange that will characterize his thorny relationship with God until his death. He is always depicted as a great towering figure of power, spreading his arms to part the Red Sea or displaying the Ten Commandments dramatically. In truth, though, he is shy and embarrassed; he is reluctant to lead. Although physically vigorous, he is not eloquent or even articulate. Nor does he have any great "will to power".
When he pleads his oratorical deficiency, God replies with a tone of impatience. As with Abraham, God takes on the characteristics of human emotion in the story. He scolds Moses, basically telling him, "if I want you to speak well, you will speak well. Who do you think you're dealing with?"
Yet Moses remains reluctant. So God appoints his brother, Aaron, to be his "mouth" — his press secretary, as it were. But Moses is to be elevated beyond a mere prophet and will be "as God" to Aaron. Aaron will speak the will of God to the people, but Moses will carry the staff of authority, the staff of the shepherd; again, a symbol that will continue in Hebrew religious symbolism until the coming of the ultimate shepherd, Jesus.
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