29th. September. 2021. Daily Devotion.

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” ~ John 14:25-27.

When we follow Christ, he doesn’t simply offer comfort. He offers a transforming, inner work of the Holy Spirit. What we have isn’t just a hope of eternity, it is everything we need to carry us to the day when we will meet him there. It is courage to stand up for him, overwhelming joy in the face of sorrow, power to proclaim his truth to an empty world that offers nothing but temporary satisfaction. We can change lives through love, just as he did. It’s not of ourselves. When we begin to think of the Christian life as nothing more than a collection of ideas, we lose the greater purpose for our faith. We are here to accomplish the same things Jesus did. God offers us power, peace, and His indwelling presence to do that, if we will set aside our agenda and take on his. M Cranford

Lord, grant me your transforming peace in the middle of what I am facing. Use the circumstances in my life to make me more like you. Open doors for me through my difficulties to glorify you. Amen.

Prayer for God’s Protection (based on Psalm 91)

Heavenly Father, I live in your shelter. You are my refuge and my fortress. You are my God, in whom I trust. Deliver me and all those who love You from the dangers of the world, both the physical dangers that can crush our bodies and the deadly pestilence that can lay waste to our souls. Cover us with your mighty wings and protect us with your steadfast shield, and we will not fear the terror of the night or the perils of the day.

The world in its darkness curses you, the only truth, the only love, the only salvation; it seeks to destroy us by force, by sarcasm, by seduction, by compromise. But if a thousand fall to the lies of the world, if ten thousand should fall away, it will not affect me. For I have made you my dwelling place, O God. You have sent your angels to guard the faithful. On their hands, they bear us up, that no stone shall strike our foot, and no viper strike our heel.

Deliver me, O Lord, for I hold fast to you even in my fear. No temptation or power of earth can separate me from your love. You answer me when I call to you; you protect me because I call on your name. You have satisfied me with long life and salvation. All praise to the God of Jacob, all praise to Jesus Christ.

It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart. —Mahatma Gandhi

Lord our God and our Father, we thank you for all the blessings you have brought into our lives and for everything we still hope to receive from your goodness. We thank you that through your Spirit you will work more and more in us and in all people, so that we are not held back by any human considerations but can go toward a higher goal. Keep us in your care. In all our special concerns may each of us experience your comfort and help, so that we may rejoice with the praise of your name always in our hearts. Amen.

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