24th. June. 2021. Daily Devotion.
Hebrew 11:1-2; 13-16
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Faithfulness is a valuable commodity in every occupation: in the family, business, friendship, and the church. Yet, tragically, faithfulness is something we are not always good at. We make resolutions and soon give up on them. We fail to follow through even if we are determined to make a change. It’s hard to be faithful on our own. We need the help of the Spirit of God, who is always faithful.
In Hebrews 11 we find many examples of people who had faith in God and who faithfully believed in God’s promises. Their lives were examples of faithfulness. They knew that they depended on God for everything, and they saw that God faithfully provided for them—even if some of God’s promises were not fulfilled by the time they died.
If you are a person of faith, God calls you to be a person of faithfulness. That is life in the Spirit. The Lord, who is faithful, promises to give us all the faithfulness we need.
Prayer
Almighty and faithful God, enable us by your Spirit to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ. In his name, Amen.
“St. Patrick’s Breastplate”
I rise today with the power of God to pilot me,
God’s strength to sustain me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look ahead for me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to protect me,
God’s way before me,
God’s shield to defend me,
God’s host to deliver me,
from snares of devils,
from evil temptations,
from nature’s failings,
from all who wish to harm me,
far or near, alone and in a crowd. Amen.
~ 8th century Irish prayer
Prayer for the World
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Overcoming Life’s Hardships
O Lord we call upon you in our time of sorrows, That you give us the strength and will to bear our heavy burdens, until we can again feel the warmth and love of Your divine compassion. Be mindful of us and have mercy on us while we struggle to comprehend life’s hardships Keep us ever in Your watch, until we can walk again with light hearts and renewed spirits. Amen.
“Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you remember Christ crucified and be silent.”
~ (St.) John of the Cross.
