A Prayer for Cleansing

O Lord our God, great, eternal, wonderful in glory, cleanse us from our sins, and from every thought displeasing to Thy goodness, cleanse our souls and bodies, our hearts and consciences that with a pure heart and a clear mind, with perfect love and calm hope, we may venture confidently and fearlessly to pray unto Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
--The Coptic Liturgy of Saint Basil

God's Goodness is Vast

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. (Psalm 36:5)(NLT)

The goodness of the Lord overwhelmed David, leaving him unable to describe it except through images from nature. (Ps 36:5-10) Through comparisons with the earth and the sky, the river and the sea, David details the attributes of God's character: His love is as vast as the heavens; his faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds; his righteousness stands as unshakable as the mighty mountains; and his justice runs as deep as the ocean depths. God continues to be good to his people today. Let us praise God for his immeasurable love and unfailing faithfulness toward us.

O LORD GOD, we thank you for your love and faithfulness, which are as limitless as the skies. We praise you for your justice and righteousness, which run as deep as the ocean. Your goodness is evident to all through your creation. Help us to reflect your love to those around us. Amen.



(from the Praise & Worship Study Bible--Tyndale House Publishers)

His Nature and Our Motives

"...unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20)

The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in his motives, having been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to place within anyone who would let Him a new heredity that would have a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus us saying, "If you are My disciple, you must be right not only in your actions, but also in your motives, your aspirations, and in the deep recesses of the thoughts of your mind." Your motives must be so pure that God Almighty can see nothing to rebuke. Who can stand in the eternal light of God and have nothing for Him to rebuke? Only the Son of God, and Jesus Christ claims that through His redemption He can place within anyone His own nature and make that person as pure and as simple as a child. The purity that God demands is impossible unless I can be remade within, and that is exactly what Jesus has undertaken to do through His redemption.

No one can make himself pure by obeying laws, Jesus Christ does not give us rules and regulations--He gives us His teachings which are truths that can only be interpreted by His nature which He places within us. The great wonder of Jesus Christ's salvation is that He changes our heredity. He does not change human nature--He changes its source, and thereby its motives as well.

A Prayer for Daily Guidance

Grant us, we pray, almighty and most merciful God, fervently to desire, wisely to search out, and perfectly to fulfill all that is well-pleasing to you this day. Order our worldly condition to the glory of your Name; and, of all that you require us to do, grant us the knowledge, the desire, and the ability, that we may so fulfill it as we ought; and may our path to you, we pray, be safe, straightforward, and perfect to the end.
--Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Holy, Holy, Holy

As a young Anglican vicar, Reginald Heber (1783-1826) wrote his own hymns to tie in with the various Sundays of the church year. "Holy, Holy, Holy," which Alfred Lord Tennyson called the world's greatest hymn, was written by Heber for Trinity Sunday, celebrated eight weeks after Easter.

Heber was continually impressed with the holiness of God, and he calls all of the saints and angels to worship God in response to it. Though sinful people cannot see the glory of God, he alone is truly holy and perfect. Once you have read these words, take a moment to bow in silence before our holy God.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.

Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Which wert and art and ever more shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy--there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in pow'r, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea;

Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

(from the Praise and Worship Study Bible)

The Lord is Our Shield

How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will bow low before you, and you will trample on their backs! (Deut. 33:29)(NLT)

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high. (Psalm 3:3)(NLT)

In biblical times, the sharpest sword or the largest spear did little to help the soldier whose body was unprotected. It was essential that he have some sort of protection, such as armor or a shield. Today we face our own daily battles filled with pain and disappointment. The losses we experience through these struggles can lead to discouragement. But it is encouraging to learn that God is our shield. He will protect us from being overwhelmed by the dangers and pain of life. Praise God that He is our shield in the midst of life's battles.

O LORD OUR SHIELD, you do not send us onto the battlefield of life unprotected. We praise you that you are able to withstand any force we may encounter. Help us to trust in your protection, so that we may boldly face our daily challenges and bring glory to you. Amen.

(from the Praise and Worship Study Bible--Tyndale House)