7th. October. 2020. Daily Devotion
Jeremiah 29:10-14
10 This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.’ Jeremiah 29:10-14
Claiming courage
You will teach me how to live a holy life. Psalm 16:11
Are you a brief journey away from painful encounters? Are you only steps away from the walls of your own heartache? Learn a lesson from your master. Don’t march into battle with the enemy without first claiming the courage from God’s promises. May I give you a few examples?
When you are confused: “‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
If you feel weighted by yesterday’s failures: “So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty” (Romans 8:1).
On those nights when you wonder where God is: “I am the Holy One, and I am among you” (Hosea 11:9). from And the Angels Were Silent
Above all remember verse 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Prayer of Penitence
Almighty God, who freely pardons all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfil in my contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; forgiving all my sins, and cleansing me from an evil conscience; through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. And turn my heart to your will at every moment, I pray.
Amen.
Prayer for Fruits of the Spirit
O Lord Jesus Christ, give me a measure of your spirit, that I may be able to obey your teachings, to pacify anger, to pity the sinful, to moderate desire, to increase love, to put away sorrow, to cast aside pride in my accomplishments, not to be vindictive, not to fear death, always entrusting my spirit to Almighty God the Father, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, with no end.
Amen.
For a Day Filled with Joy
O Father God in heaven: What a great day! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this and every day when I have woken up, with my heart beating and my mind able to read and think.
Whatever physical limitations I may have, whatever aches and pains or illnesses I have this day, they can never diminish the greatness of life itself and the great world in which I have found myself. For I know, I did not earn the millions of little blessings that a human life requires: every cell, every strand of DNA, every bone and every muscle in my body is a gift. I did not make them, nor the air, water, or sunshine that keep them alive.
By the power of your Holy Spirit, fill my heart with joy for all that I have been given. Help me to shoulder the burdens of my life with strength and courage, finding my solace in your promise of eternal life. I look forward in absolute faith to the glorious new body that all of Christ’s children have been promised; but I pray to enjoy this not-so-glorious body, to see all of its wonders and remember that, being a gift, I am in no position to complain about its imperfections. Let me enjoy my life while I have it, great Lord. Let me celebrate all the little things I take for granted.
Bless also all the other people of this earth, O Lord, that they may be filled with the joy of life, and especially know that life eternal, which can come only from your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen
May your love that never fails strengthen the weak encourage the fearful, calm the anxious heal the sick through your church – your washed hands and feet on earth – distant but still present, virtual but still connected, apart but still helping. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen.
