Daily Devotion for February 4, 2023
Young Benton received no pay for this masterwork except egg yolks (from which he made the tempura). Notice the reference to Stag at Sharkey’s by George Bellows. (See Full-size.)
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.
This week’s “Saturday Oldie” is very soft, so you might want to turn your sound up.
The Windy City Quartet began in Chicago in 1929. It was a popular recording and touring group in the 1930’s and 40’s, and it is still in operation.
A Puritan Prayer
Almighty God, as I cross the threshold of this day I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Your care. Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me. Incline my heart to Your ways. Mold me completely into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay.
May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Your praise. Let those around see me living by Your Spirit, trampling the world underfoot, unconformed to lying vanities, transformed by a renewed mind, clothed in the entire armour of God, shining as a never-dimmed light, showing holiness in all my doings. Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, and hands.
May I travel swampy paths with a life pure from spot or stain. In every transaction let my affection be in heaven, and my love soar upwards in flames of fire, my gaze fixed on unseen things, my eyes open to the emptiness, fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities. May I view all things in the mirror of eternity, waiting for the coming of my Lord, listening for the last trumpet call, hastening unto the new heaven and earth.
Order this day all my communications according to Your wisdom, and to the gain of mutual good. Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable. May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day. This I pray in the name of Christ, my Lord and Savior,
To Love Jesus
Oh, my soul, how much longer do you wish to be so stingy with Jesus? Why so negligent towards Jesus who made You? Why so lazy towards Jesus who redeemed you? Who do you want to love, if you do not want to love Jesus?
Benediction
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.
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.
Today’s “Remember the Bible” Question
Where does the Bible warn us that Christ might change over the years?
Proverbs 14:16-17 (NKJV)
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.
1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)
umble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Notes on the Scripture
Anxiety
With all of the discussion about suffering and Christianity the past weeks, there is one type of earthly suffering that we do not have to endure: Anxiety. In fact, as our faith increases, our anxiety will decrease.
Anxiety and worry are a terrible emotion. They do not help us in the future while robbing us of the present. We can plan for the future and do whatever is in our power to ensure a better future, but we do not have to suffer the pain of uncertainty.
Outsiders may consider much of Christian conduct a burden, but as we grow in our faith, we know better. When Christ said, “Come to me, all of you who suffer and carry heavy burdens, and I will relieve you,” this is exactly what He was talking about. It is easy to see that, once we know Christ, we never have to feel the crushing load of anxiety again.
We give our worries to Christ by prayer. We can call upon the Holy Spirit to assist us, for people often find worry a difficult habit to break. But if you do not do so, you should try it. If you are fretting about something, there is no need to simply sit there. Drive those heebie-jeebies right out of your day! Because we know how it is all going to turn out. There is nothing to worry about. We are assured of eternal peace, for God’s victory has been proven to us by the resurrection of Christ.
Just close your eyes, or if it helps, get on your knees, and begin to pray to God. There is no secret formula. Tell Him that you know you have nothing to worry about and talk to Him about how silly your worries are, in the long run. Ask the Holy Spirit to be with you and take away your burden. If you can’t think of anything else, simply say, “Holy Spirit, be with me.”
If it helps, you can think of anxiety as a sin. We usually think of sin as something that gives us pleasure in the short run, but here is a sin whose only purpose is to make us miserable! But it is sinful, really, because ideas of anxiety always occur in a vacuum of faith and hope. Where faith and hope fill our hearts, there is no room for worry. Everything is going to turn out great — in fact, perfectly — in the long run. So stop worrying and be full of joy!
Comments (2)
Thank you for the uplifting words re anxiety! It’s a reminder to not allow frustration caused by worldly “rules” give way to anxiety, which clouds our joy in Christ.
I love the artwork (especially) today!