19th. January. 2022. Daily Devotion.
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. ~ Psalm 95:1-2
I read a rather boastful comment about this which I thought I would share today:
I would not even attempt to tell you how many hymnbooks are piled up in my study. I cannot sing a lick, but that is nobody’s business. God thinks I am an opera star! God listens while I sing to Him the old French hymns in translation, the old Latin hymns in translation. God listens while I sing the old Greek hymns from the Eastern church as well as the beautiful psalms done in meter and some of the simpler songs of Watts and Wesley and the rest. I mean it when I say that I would rather worship God than to do anything else. A.W. Tozer. Christian Leadership
He has a point though; do we have our own moments of joyful expression of worship and faith in the course of an ordinary day? What are we going to do about this awesome, beautiful worship that God calls for? Allow it to rise spontaneously when we think of all that is ours in Jesus Christ.
Lord, may that be my testimony as well, ~ “I would rather worship God than do any other thing I know of in all this wide world.” Amen.
Prayers Old and New
Grant us, O Holy Spirit, wisdom and understanding that we may receive your light; prudence and strength that we may persevere in faith; knowledge and awe that we may rest in you alone, fear and delight that we may rejoice in your love. Amen. Bonaventura (c.1217-1274)
Loving Lord, help us to be faithful witnesses to the truth we have received from you. Sustain us as we seek to be a welcoming community open to all. Help us as we seek to bring a message of hope where there is fear, joy where there is sadness, and faith where there is doubt. Empower us by your Holy Spirit to share your love with the whole community by our words and our deeds. Amen.
Prayer for All Who Have Injured Me
O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted on us; remember the fruits we have bought, thanks to this suffering — our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this, and when they come to judgment, let all the fruits which we have borne be their forgiveness. Amen. ~ Prayer found by a Russian soldier on May 17, 1945, in Ravensbrück concentration camp, on the body of a child.
In the face of rising tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine, here is a prayer for world peace.
Prayer for World Peace
Lord Jesus, You came that the world might know the peace that you have experienced with the Father eternally. Yet, You taught us that in this life there will be wars and rumours of wars. Nations will rise against nations as violence works itself out in the world. However, through you, the world may be saved. O Lord, send Your Spirit into the hearts of all men, that the world might know true peace through your abundant mercy. Amen.
