Daily Prayer for July 22, 2021

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, you who are more glorious than all of your creation and the one who redeems a people from their sin and misery, we thank you for the great salvation that is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. Though we know that we deserve nothing from your hand but death and judgment and eternal torment in hell, you have rescued us and placed us on the solid rock that can never be moved. That rock is your Son and our Savior. Through him, we have an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled reserved in heaven for us. In Him, we have all the blessings and promises that you grant to your people. We thank you, Father, for so great a salvation. Forgive us for the many times we allow our minds and hearts to think more on the affairs of this life instead of setting them firmly on the things. Give us the discipline to think about eternity and the wherewithal to labor while it is still day because the night is coming when no man can work. Please help us to redeem the time for the sake of your glory and kingdom. Forgive us when we go astray and help us to walk in newness of life. All of these things we pray only in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

prayerWilliam HillJuly 22, 2021

The Morning Devotional: WSC Q31

The Morning Devotional for July 22, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q31

What is effectual calling?
Effectual calling is the work of God’ s Spirit, (2 Tim. 1:9, 2 Thess. 2:13–14) whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, (Acts 2:37) enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, (Acts 26:18) and renewing our wills, (Ezek. 36:26–27) he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. (John 6:44–45, Phil. 2:13)

devotional, shorter catechism, videoWilliam HillJuly 22, 2021

Key Bible Passages from Exodus

Exodus 1 -- The people of God are located in Egypt under a Pharaoh that did not know Joseph.
Exodus 3 -- Moses is called by YHWH at the burning bush and commissioned to lead the people out of Egypt.
Exodus 7-11 -- The nine plagues/signs of YHWH.
Exodus 12 -- The institution of the Passover and the tenth plague/sign.
Exodus 14-- The crossing of the Red Sea

bible readingWilliam HillJuly 21, 2021

Entering Into Prayer

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

The narrative before us finds the Savior with a father who has a son who is possessed by a spirit that convulsed him and threatened him with bodily harm. This father brought his son to the disciples, who were unable to do anything. Therefore, in an act of last resort, the man appealed to Christ for help. As he did so, he indicates a certain level of uncertainty as to the ability of Christ to resolve the problem. Jesus, noticing the father's lack of belief, encourages him by saying that "all things are possible for one who believes." The father admitted his belief that was mingled with unbelief, and at that, Jesus healed the boy.

prayerWilliam HillJuly 21, 2021

Daily Prayer for July 21, 2021

Prayer: Almighty God, you who are glorious and majestic, the only true God of heaven and earth, we praise your name this morning as those called apart from the world as peculiar and holy people adopted as sons and daughters to live holy lives before you. We are thankful that we can pour out our hearts to a Father in heaven who stands able and ready to help his children. We pray this day that you would be pleased to give us our daily bread, knowing that you have promised to give to us all that we need. Indeed, our God, we are a needy people. There is no good in us at all. Your kindness and grace determine all that we are and all that we do. You give good gifts to us, and you bless us with your presence and Word. You have sustained us in a world full of sin and misery. Our health is due to you. You grant our worldly possessions for us to enjoy. You design our families as a rich blessing to help us in our journey to our heavenly rest. Our friends are a great comfort as we labor together to serve you. For these reasons and many more, we offer you heartfelt thanks knowing that words fail us. Above all of these things, we have your Son, who you gave as a demonstration of your love for us. How can we say thanks for so rich an inheritance? Because of all that you have done and will do, we seek to serve you. We know that we fall short and mourn our indwelling sin. Please help us, Father. Please be patient and kind and grant us more of your Spirit that we may love you and others as you have commanded us. These things we pray only because of the work of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

prayerWilliam HillJuly 21, 2021

The Morning Devotional: WSC Q30

The Morning Devotional for July 21, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q30

How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, (Eph. 1:13–14, John 6:37–39, Eph. 2:8) and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. (Eph. 3:17, 1 Cor. 1:9)

devotional, video, shorter catechismWilliam HillJuly 21, 2021

Begging From God

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture Meditation: Matthew 26:36-46.

The account under consideration is a familiar one. We know the story and the events within it. The fact that we are very familiar with these things sometimes clouds our vision and does not allow us to mine the more profound truths contained within the narrative as penned by the Spirit of God. A few observations are worthy to note before applying the thrust of the passage to our own prayer life. First, note that Jesus brings his eleven disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane (26:36). There is an aspect in which he teaches and instructs his disciples, preparing them for the labor ahead. Second, note the movement of the Savior as he enters into prayer. The first movement leaves eight disciples further away from him. the second movement finds Jesus bringing the inner circle - Peter, James, and John - with him further into the garden. The third movement finds Jesus alone with his Father in prayer. Though I am not ready to be completely dogmatic, the thrust of these three movements reminds me of the activity that surrounded the work at the tabernacle. The tabernacle was surrounded by the "outer court" where the people of God could enter. The next area of the tabernacle is the holy place where only the priests could enter. The third area of the tabernacle is the most holy place where only the high priest was allowed to enter. If you follow the movement of the Savior, you have a representation of those activities of old: the eight disciples were left in the outer court; the three disciples of the inner circle moved with Jesus into the holy place and told to remain there. Only then does the Great High Priest enter the most inner section of the garden to pray to His Father. The picture is striking. It is in this third area and the activity of Jesus that we learn much about prayer.

William HillJuly 20, 2021

Daily Prayer for July 20, 2021

Prayer: Our most holy and glorious God in heaven, we pray this day that your kingdom would come and that your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Through your divine providence and matchless power, we pray that you would bring all things into subjection of your will as given to us in your Word. We also pray that you would cause us and others to know, acknowledge, and highly esteem you as you have revealed yourself to your creatures. We further pray that you would bring all glory to yourself and that your people would be zealous to do so by obeying you in all the ways you have commanded. Forgive us, Father, for the many ways in which we stray from the narrow path. Please grant us a greater measure of your Spirit that we would live worthy of the calling you have placed upon us. We ask these things in the name of the only Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Amen.

prayerWilliam HillJuly 20, 2021

The Morning Devotional: WSC Q29

The Morning Devotional for July 20, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q29

How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us, (John 1:11–12) by his Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5–6)

devotional, shorter catechism, videoWilliam HillJuly 20, 2021

The Morning Devotional: WSC Q28

The Morning Devotional for July 19, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q28

Wherein consisteth Christ’ s exaltation?
Christ’ s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, (1 Cor. 15:4) in ascending up into heaven, (Mark 16:19) in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, (Eph. 1:20) and in coming to judge the world at the last day. (Acts 1:11, Acts 17:31)

devotional, shorter catechism, videoWilliam HillJuly 19, 2021

Daily Prayer for the Lord's Day, July 18, 2021

Prayer: Almighty God, we praise your name today because you have made us and redeemed us. Through the work of your Son, we have been purchased as a peculiar people, your treasured possession. You have called us by name, and we belong to you. Once, we were aliens and strangers to the covenant of promise but now have been brought near as your chosen people, adopted to be holy and blameless in your sight. We thank you for this great privilege of being sons and daughters of the Most High. We confess that we do not always walk worthy of the calling you have placed upon our lives. We desire, however, to do all that you have commanded us not because it will add to our union with you but out of love for all you have done for us. Be pleased, our Father, to grant us more of your Spirit and help us to walk in the newsless of life that your redeemed people possess by virtue of your eternal Son who gave his life a ransom for many. These things we pray in praise and thanksgiving through Christ our Lord. Amen.

prayerWilliam HillJuly 18, 2021