1st July. June. 2021. Daily Devotion.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ~ Romans 8:18
What is the most difficult aspect of life to accept, for Christians? In my experience, it is the death of a close family member: a child, a beloved spouse, a parent. The death of someone we have loved so much, for so long, that their passing rips apart the very fabric of our earthly existence.
Our suffering as human beings can surely be terrible; but God promises us, in Romans 8:18, that our joy will be incomparably greater than even our worst moments on earth.
But to take consolation and comfort from God’s promises, and the presence of the Holy Spirit with us, we must be prepared. It isn’t easy to take comfort when all we want to do is mourn! We must get ready, by prayer, meditation, and study, to accept the measure of relief that He affords us while we are still alive, and strength from the certainty that, one day, the sun will certainly rise on our darkness, forever. ~ M Barge
Lord God, steel me to turn to you during the painful periods of my life. Amen.
Lord of All Hopefulness
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, whose trust, ever child-like, no cares can destroy, be there at my waking, and give me, I pray, your bliss in my heart, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe, be there at my labours, and give me, I pray, your strength in my heart, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace, be there at my homing, and give me, I pray, your love in my heart, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm, be there at my sleeping, and give me, I pray, your peace in my heart, Lord, at the end of the day. Amen. ~ Jan Struther, 1931
To Find God in Music
Great God, in the wondrous blending of sounds it is Your call we hear; in the harmony of many voices, in the sublime beauty of music, in the glory of the works of great composers: You lead us to the threshold of paradise to come, and to the choirs of angels. All true beauty has the power to draw the soul towards You, and to make it sing in ecstasy: Alleluia! Amen
Compassionate God Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the God of compassion. As crowds gathered around you, they begged you to let the sick just touch the edge of your cloak. You did not turn them away but looked on them with compassion and healed them. I bring the needs of many before you now and ask you to look with compassion and heal once again. You have the power to turn any situation around. I cry out to you with the faith that knows that you are the same yesterday, today and forever. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
