Daily Devotion for May 3, 2017
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.
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast,
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
Prayer for the Morning
Heavenly Father, I give you a million thanks that I have woken up alive this morning, once again to witness the magnificence, the glory of your creation. Even on the dreariest of days, when the weather doesn't suit me, let me rejoice in the taste of heaven you give us on earth. For the hottest, muggiest day; the coldest and most bitter weather; the clouds, the rain, the wind and snow, the lightning and thunder — these are all your creations, oh Lord, and all of them have a great beauty if I just take the time to see it.
Should I be blind, what would I give to see the cloudy rainy day that I complain about? Should I be deaf, how much I would long to hear your thunder! When I lie dying, how sweet it will seem to have been bundled up against a chill wind, or to be soaked in sweat as I work in the heat and humidity.
Let me be always filled with gratitude for the world you have given me, great God, Father and creator of all that is.
I Take Your Hand Sweet Jesus
When my world falls down around me
And the ground is sinking sand,
When peace can't be found on this earth,
I reach out for Your hand.
When Your hand wraps 'round my own
A strength pours from Your Spirit;
It brings to me a quiet calm
Til once again I'm whole
A peace beyond all reason,
A rest there in Your touch,
Something in Your quiet words
My heart yearns for so much...
If I but rest my worries
Upon Your shoulder there,
Strength that pours forth from Your Spirit
Will wash away each care.
Like a cool sweet taste of water
For a tired thirsty man,
My heart finds peace, my soul is calm,
When I reach out for Your hand.
Meditation
[Letting God wash away our cares.]
Dedication
God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh. Make me and all who confess your holy name people of this light. Make me faithful to your Word that I may bring your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
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.
Giving God Trouble
Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all.
~ D L Moody
Isaiah 42:1-9 (ESV)
This is my servant
This is my servant, who I support, and my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit upon him, and he will bring justice to the Gentiles.
He will not cry out, nor raise his voice, nor make it heard in the street.
He will not break the weakest reed nor quench a dimly burning candle: he will bring justice through truth.
He will not fail or be discouraged, until he has set justice on the earth: and the islands will wait for his law to come.
Thus said Jehovah, God that created the heavens, and spread them far; he that made the earth and all that comes out of it; he that gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to those that walk therein:
“I, Jehovah, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and make a contract with your people, as a light for the Gentiles; to open blind eyes, to free the prisoners from the dungeon, and those that sit in darkness out of their jail.
I am Jehovah, that is my name; I will not give my glory to another, nor praise for my works to graven images.
See now, that the former things have happened, and that I tell you what is to come, before it occurs.”
Notes on the Scripture
his section of Isaiah refers to the Messiah. It was Isaiah who primarily predicted the coming of Christ and accurately prophesied many of the main events of his life. Here he emphasizes two aspects of Christ which were not generally accepted as traits of the Savior. First, that he would be peaceful; he would bring justice through truth rather than through force. Second, that he would extend God's covenant to the Gentiles and to “the islands”, i.e. throughout the world far from Palestine.
God is quoted by name, which was translated into “Jehovah” by early English translators of the Bible. In Hebrew it is four letters (no vowels), which can be transliterated as YHVH or YHUH. The name more frequently written and pronounced “Yahweh” today, but has had many spellings, such as Yehovah, Yehveh, Yeveh, Jhuh, Javah, etc. The Jews never pronounce it, and the true pronunciation is utterly unknown.
The quote attributed to Jehovah consists of three of the strongest ideas of both Old and New Testaments. First, the use of light as a metaphor for God's word, with associated metaphors such as allowing the blind to see (as everyone is blind in the dark). Second, the image of humanity in a dungeon until freed by a covenant with God. And third, God's rule that the glory for His word and works be ascribed to Him.
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