19th. November. 2020. Daily Devotion.
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13
Christ will supply the strength. If we stop trying to rely on ourselves and put ourselves into the hands of God, He will give us all the strength we need. But it is in our nature to try to make ourselves happy. We think, “If I work hard enough, I can make something of myself, and I will be happy.” Then there is the Christian, who will tell himself and maybe others, “I don’t need to be rich. I only need enough to pay my bills so I’m not worrying all the time. And maybe be able to take a vacation once a year.”
But how many people, who want to adjust their money to satisfy their desires, instead of adjusting their desires to meet their money, ever become happy? Alexander the Great, when he had conquered the world, wept that he had no other world to conquer. Seeking to rely on the strength of our person to increase our share of the material world is a fire that will never have enough fuel.
God has promised that if honour Him, He will give us strength to do all things. People use Philippians 4:13 when they want a promotion at work, thinking this it some sort of Biblical self-affirmation, the power of positive thinking; they need to read the lines preceding it. “I have learned both to be full and to be hungry,” Paul teaches. That is the point of the passage; that we may be strong enough to live in contentment, whatever the world might think of us, or do to us, or give to us, or take away from us. M. Barge.
Heavenly Father give me the strength to surrender myself ever more to your will. Amen.
Prayer for Purity of Thought
Almighty God, who alone gave me the breath of life, and alone can keep alive in me the holy desires your Spirit brings; I pray to you, in the name of your infinite compassion, to sanctify my thoughts and endeavours this day; that I may not begin to act without a pure intention or continue it without your blessing. And grant that, having the eyes of my mind opened to behold things invisible and unseen, I may in heart be inspired by your wisdom, and in work be upheld by your strength, and in the end be accepted by you as your faithful servant; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
For Christians
Teach me, O Lord, to dispose my deeds so that they will serve in glorifying Your holy name. Take pity, O Lord, on all Christians. Hear the desires of all who cry out to You and deliver them from evil. Save Your servants; send them comfort, consolation in their sorrows, and Your holy mercy.
O Lord, I especially pray for those who have in any way insulted, abused or grieved me. Do not punish them for the sake of me, a sinner; but pour Your mercy upon them. O Lord. I pray to You especially for all those whom I, a sinner, insulted or tempted in word, deed, thought, knowingly or unknowingly. O Lord God forgive us our sins and mutual offenses. Dispel from every Christian heart all indignation, suspicion, anger, remembrance of evil, quarrels, and all that might hinder and lessen brotherly love. In Christ’s holy name, I ask this, Amen.
Pandemic Prayer
We Belong to Each Other. We Belong to You. The Bible says, “where two or three are gathered.” And many, in this moment, will gather no closer than six feet. The Bible says, “they were all gathered together in one place.” And we do not know when we will be together next. Triune God, you exist in eternal relationship. You are One and yet are three. In a time of isolation, draw us closer to this mystery. May it remind us of your truth: even in physical isolation, we are never truly alone. Your love links us together, making us a people. For the Bible also says: We belong to each other. We belong to you. Even now. Especially now. Amen. — Bryce Wiebe, Director of Special Offerings PCUSA.
