Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:"Forsake me not, O Lord." - Psalm 38:21

I pray for my kids, a lot. They are amazing teenagers, each as different as could be, each loving, thoughtful, full of life. They need our prayers at all times, for health, school work, safety, God's calling on their lives, God's comfort and blessing, and perseverence in the Lord.

My prayers for my self are quite a bit different. I thank the Lord for His blessings, and I pray often that He would make me hungrier for His word, so that my life would be full of it, and Him. But there is also a lot of complacency in my prayers to Him, and I think that is Spurgeon's point: we need God's constant upholding, in good times, and in times of struggle.

My prayers are most fervent when I am in a struggle - most all of my own doing, I might add. I'm thankful for the morning devotion today, to exhort me to be fervent in prayer before the struggles start!

I am more thankful to Jesus, who makes intercession for us. I am covered in His prayers - He is always faithful!

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; - [John 17:20 NKJV]

Evening:"And they rose up the same hour, and returned Jerusalem . . . and they told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them." — Luke 24:33,35

This is such a sweet devotional, and so encouraging. Each of us has a small part to play in sharing the testimony of Christ, and the picture is not complete unless we are all bold to share. Spurgeon is a kind pastor! - a man who preached over 3,500 sermons, to perhaps 10,000,000 souls, and yet he claims not for himself a larger part than any of his listeners, in telling "what great things God has shown to your soul".

And yet, should we be surprised? For Spurgeon certainly knew:

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. - [2 Corinthians 4:5-7 NKJV]

Are you an earthen vessel? Share what the Lord is doing in your life, and build up the body of Christ, to His glory!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon