Daily Devotion for July 2, 2011
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.
Prayer for the Morning
Blessed are you, Lord God of my salvation, to you be praise and glory for ever. As once you ransomed your people from Egypt and led them to freedom in the promised land, so now you have delivered me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of your risen Son. May I, the fruit of your new creation, rejoice in this new day you have made, and praise you for your mighty acts. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Prayer for Freedom from Fear
O Lord, I beseech you to deliver me, and all of your children, from the fear of the unknown future; from fear of failure; from fear of poverty; from fear of bereavement; from fear of loneliness; from fear of sickness and pain; from fear of age; from fear of death. Help us, O Father, by your grace to love and fear only you, and fill our hearts with cheerful courage and loving trust in you; through our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.
Prayer for Unknown Needs
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on my weakness, and mercifully give me those things which for my unworthiness I dare not, and for my blindness I cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Irish Blessing
Deep peace of the running wave to you.Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
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 11:2
But with the humble is wisdom.

Paul's First Journey
Acts 14:24-28 (KJV)
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch
And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Notes on the Scripture
Here ends what is known as the "First Mission of Paul". You can follow his route on the Daily Devotional map. I didn't use lines and arrows for the route taken, but those who have been following the Daily Devotional should not have a problem. For those who have have not or have forgotten (easy to do!), here is the route of Paul and Barnabas: They started in Antioch, sailed to Cyprus and traveled across it to Salamis. They then took a boat to the mainland, landing in Perga, then went north to Antioch in Pisidia.
Once they reached Antioch in Pisidia, they traveled south through Iconia, Lystra, and Derbe, the places where they had a great deal of trouble, with an angry mob pursuing them and stoning Paul at one point.
They converted numerous people in each town, founded churches, and appointed elders to oversee the churches
On the return journey, they retraced their steps through Turkey but debarked from Attalia, where they recrossed the sea to Antioch (landing at Antioch's port town, Seleucia). The journey took somewhere between 9 and 18 months. Travel in that day was exceedingly difficult.
Needless to say, they were exhausted and happy to be back to the comparative safety and comfort of the large church in Antioch.
