Daily Devotion for January 22, 2013
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.
Chorus: I'm gonna sing just as long as it takes for a song
To make sad, heavy spirits free.
I'm gonna keep making music that carries the secret
That Jesus is liberty.
I'm gonna turn off the sounds that would drag people down
To the pit of despondency.
With the sweet happy tune
He is coming soon
For His children like you and me.
It's a song that'll carry a message along
Through the densest of foggy nights,
And a tune is the rope
That can throw a man hope
When he's going down for the third time.
It's a sweet melody that can cut your heart free
From the chains of a past defeat.
You can suddenly see through the sweet harmony
A path for your wand'ring feet.
Don't tell me the world is a hopeless old place
And I might as well give in
To the doom and gloom-life's a waiting room
For the blow that'll do us all in.
I can't sympathize when before my eyes
Is a hope shining as bright as day.
I gotta follow the song that keeps drawing me on
With my feet dancing all the way.
Praise and Thanks this Morning
Hallelujah! The sun has risen again and it is morning! And I have awoken into it, alive, breathing, thinking, knowing that the Son will rise again and I will be saved. What did I do to deserve this day? It is a gift from you. Glory and praise to you, my God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for filling me with life to live another day, for it is You who made me and not me myself.
I resolve to spend this day in the presence of the Holy Spirit, filled with His joy and energy, that I might accomplish your will, my God, and do what I can to deserve the joys of the day, for I know my time here is short. Be with me, oh Holy Spirit, to fill me with the energy and positivity and comfort that only You can bring. In Christ's name I pray that Thy will be done,
Prayer for Forgiveness
Heavenly Father, true God, who sent your beloved Son to seek the wandering sheep, I have sinned against heaven and before you; receive me like the Prodigal Son, and clothe me with the garment of innocence, of which I was deprived by sin. Have mercy upon your creatures and upon me, a great sinner, through the miracle of Christ's resurrection and your grace, I pray.
Benediction
Walk with me, dear Lord, so that I may not be alone as I face this day, but always in your presence. Your joy is a lighthouse in a world often dark with sin, and I pray that I may inspire others as I have been inspired. In the name of Christ, bless me this day, and all whom I may meet.
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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