***Note*** Since the devotional did not send out yesterday, I just added today’s prayer requests to yesterday’s devotional. For those of you who read it online, I apologize.
The Game of Life
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13.
The truth of God obeyed, the living by every word of God, is alone sufficient to make any of us stand in these evil times. Satan is playing the game of life for the soul. . . .
There are opportunities and advantages which are within the reach of all to strengthen the moral and spiritual powers. The mind can be expanded and ennobled and should be made to dwell upon heavenly things. . . . Unless it flows in a heavenward direction it becomes an easy prey to the temptation of Satan to engage in worldly projects and enterprises that have no special connection with God. And all zeal and devotion and restless energy and feverish desire are brought into this work, and the devil stands by and laughs to see human effort wrestling so perseveringly for an object that it will never gain, which eludes its grasp. . . . Schemes and projects which Satan invents ensnare the soul, and poor, deceived human beings go on blindfolded to their own ruin. . . .
There is one safeguard against Satan’s deceptions and snares, that is the truth as it is in Jesus. The truth planted in the heart, nourished by watchfulness and prayer, nourished by the grace of Christ, will give us discernment. The truth must abide in the heart, be felt in its power in spite of all the alluring enchantments of Satan, and your experience and mine must be that the truth can purify, guide, and bless the soul. . . .
The enemy is on the track of every one of us, and if we would resist temptations which assail us from without and from within, we need to make sure we are on the Lord’s side, that His truth is in our hearts, that it keeps watch in our souls, ready to sound an alarm and summon us to action against every enemy. Without this defense amid unseen foes we shall be like the willow bending to the blast, driven of the wind and tossed. But if Christ abides in the soul we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
That I May Know Him p. 301
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Prayer Requests
—–update— Kathy was a kidney transplant recipient several years ago and that the doctors THINK she had/has an infection that has affection her only kidney such that it has shut down but they were optimistic that it would restart by itself. from the above it looks like there has been a setback for some reason. While it was not stated, she seems to be in a critical stage right now. ALL: Please keep Kathy in your supplicational prayers that God would heal her according to His will and His plans for her well being, both in the immediacy and future while giving her His comfort that He will “work ALL things for His good for her.” Bill
—–Please pray for R who is having health issues. A
—– Please pray for Sue. She is in ICU at _____. Has been dx with a lg. abdominal tumor. She is in much pain. Ron
——Please pray for Brian and Esther and their children as they travel back home. Rose
—— Please pray for our 80 plus neighbor who is having heart surgery this morning. Mary
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Dear Friends
When Esther still lived at home, our house was filled with music. Either she or I would play the piano and we would sing in harmony. Sometimes we would play four-handed piano. That was fun. We sang the old songs such as “Redeemed,” “Nothing Between,” “Jesus Loves Me,” and others. How we loved to sing those old songs. One day she commented how the words and music of hymns were filled with so much meaning. Even Ron’s favorite song, Jesus loves me, has not-so-familiar verses that touch the heart. “Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide: He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. Jesus, take this heart of mine, Make it pure and wholly Thine; On the cross You died for me, I will love and live for Thee.”
I have read, “Music is as much an act of worship as is prayer.” So true, when both words and music are noticed and meditated upon. Through uplifting music, we can be blessed. Paul advises, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Col 3:16 “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” Ps 34:3; 96:1-6
There are many types of music to choose from. How much we need a guide that we may know which to choose. When selecting music, we must ask ourselves, “Does this music draw me closer to God through its words, its melody, its rhythm? What is more noticeable, its message or its beat? What is its lasting effect upon me?” Paul’s guide applies to music as well, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8
May we choose our music well, that we “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Rom 12:21 May we declare as did David, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Ps 9:1 May we draw closer to Him as we meditate upon the song’s words is my prayer.
Rose