Daily Prayer for the Lord's Day, August 15, 2021
Prayer: Grant almighty God that as we gather together in public worship today, you would bring all of your redeemed people to behold your majesty and glory. We thank you that you have ordered one day in seven for the corporate worship of your people, knowing that you have promised to meet with us and speak to us through your Word read, and especially proclaimed. We confess that we are not always eager for this great duty and privilege. We are forgetful that we are to enter your courts with praise and thanksgiving. We often come with a lack of hunger and thirst that can only be satisfied by your Word. Forgive us, Father, and please help us to listen and do what we hear. We ask that you would be with those men, called of your Spirit, that they would preach Christ boldly. We long to see and hear from Jesus today! Therefore, loving and gracious God, spare your people from false teaching and men who would tamper with your Word. Grant to us a powerful demonstration of your Spirit through your Word we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Daily Prayer for August 13, 2021
Prayer: Grant almighty God that we as your people would learn from the sins and transgressions of those who have gone before us. Please help us to learn from their successes as well. We know that your Word tells us that the things of old happened for our instruction, and yet we sometimes fall into the same traps and ways of life of those who have gone before us. We are slow to learn and often fail to heed the instructions of wiser, more seasoned, and faithful people. Forgive us for being so dull and arrogant in thinking that we are more enlightened today than the church was over the last twenty centuries. Grant to us a willing mind and heart that we would follow the pattern of sound instruction that has been passed down to us. Please spare your church from the novelty and inventions of men. Protect the pulpits of your churches from those who fail to heed the old paths and set out to forge a new road that leads to destruction. Please protect your church from those who have good intentions, but the end is death. We know that your Son told us that this would happen and that many will seek preaching that will not conform to sound doctrine. Please grant to us the wisdom to see the putrid fruit of their ways. Please grant more of your Spirit that we may discern these things through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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The Morning Devotional: WSC Q51
The Morning Devotional for August 13, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q51
What is forbidden in the second commandment?
The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, (Deut. 4:15–19, Exod. 32:5,8) or any other way not appointed in his Word. (Deut. 12:31–32)
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Persevere in Prayer
Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:
Scripture: Romans 12:9-13
During my seminary days, there was a man that labored in the pastorate for over forty years that I came to know and appreciate. In many ways, our discussions, chats, and times of thinking out loud together were a seminary education in itself. His wisdom and counsel to me forged more into my heart and mind than some of my classes. The importance of that friendship granted me the opportunity to learn from one who had walked the road of ministerial life and walked it well. One of the things he would repeatedly tell me is, "Bill, more prayer!" I have vivid memories of the times that we talked in which he would remind me of that simple truth: more prayer!
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Daily Prayer for August 12, 2021
Prayer: Grant almighty God that you would give us a spirit of rejoicing in all that you have done for us. You have taken us from our lowly estate and given to us eyes of faith as we await that heavenly kingdom prepared for those you have redeemed. As we live this side of the cross, we stand in awe of those who have gone before us who were taken from their home, journeyed in tens, made to wander as pilgrims in this world. Yet, they continued to look forward to the city with foundations whose designer and builder is you. Like them, we too look forward to that city as we pilgrim in our exile. Grant to us more faith and rejoicing as we anticipate that great day and behold that which eye has not seen and ear heard for those who love you. All of this, we pray, knowing that we would have nothing without the labor of your Son who entrusted himself to you as he finished the work you gave him to do. Through Christ, we have this sure promise that you will bring us where he is dwelling -- the new heavens and the new earth. These things we pray, boldly and with confidence in your promises through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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The Morning Devotional: WSC Q49-50
The Morning Devotional for August 12, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q49-50
Question 49
Which is the second commandment?
The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exod. 20:4–6)
Question 50
What is required in the second commandment?
The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word. (Deut. 32:46, Matt. 28:20, Acts 2:42)
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The Morning Devotional: WSC Q48
The Morning Devotional for August 11, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q48
What are we specially taught by these words [before me] in the first commandment?
These words [before me] in the first commandment teach us, That God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God. (Ezek. 8:5–6, Ps. 44:20–21)
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The Morning Devotional: WSC Q47
The Morning Devotional for August 10, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q47
What is forbidden in the first commandment?
The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, (Ps. 14:1) or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, (Rom. 1:21) and our God; (Ps. 81:10–11) and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone. (Rom. 1:25–26)
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Daily Prayer for August 10, 2021
Prayer: Grant, almighty God that you would cause us to honor and adore you today with all that we choose to do. We thank you that you are the God of providence, ordering and governing every thought, action, and result according to the purpose of your most holy will. We desire to see you glorified in all that we do. We know that we are dependent on you for everything. Our daily bread comes from you. Our life is sustained by you. Each breath we take is ordered by you. Therefore, grant us a humble frame that we would walk with you as you have commanded. Forgive us for our many transgressions and sins and grant us forgiveness through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Monday with Calvin: A Daily Prayer for August 9, 2021
Prayer: Grant, Almighty God, that as thou hast once adopted us, and continues to confirm this thy favour by calling us unceasingly to thyself, and dost not only severely chastise us, but also gently and paternally invite us to thyself, and exhort us at the same time to repentance, – 0 grant that we may not be so hardened as to resist thy goodness, nor abuse this thine incredible forbearance, but submit ourselves in obedience to thee; that whenever thou mayest severely chastise us, we may bear thy corrections with genuine submission of faith, and not continue untameable and obstinate to the last, but return to thee the only fountain of life and salvation, that as thou has once begun in us a good work, so thou mayest perfect it to the day of our Lord. Amen.
(From Calvin's commentary on Hosea)
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The Morning Devotional: WSC Q45-46
The Morning Devotional for August 9, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q45-46
Question 45
Which is the first commandment?
The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exod. 20:3)
Question 46
What is required in the first commandment?
The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; (1 Chron. 28:9, Deut. 26:17) and to worship and glorify him accordingly. (Matt. 4:10, Ps. 29:2)
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Daily Prayer for the Lord's Day, August 8, 2021
Prayer: Grant almighty God that as you called your people of old to commune with you in a tent, we would be called by you to worship and glorify you on the day that you have made for this purpose. Grant to us a zeal for your majesty and a desire to commune with you, not in fading glory as in the days of old, but with a greater weight of glory through the never-changing and abiding nature of the God-man, your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Please cause your people to jealously guard your worship, for it is there that we hear from you as you speak to us in and through your infallible Word. Grant your ministers unction of the Holy Spirit as they proclaim Christ and him crucified. Help them to preach, not with the words of men, but as a powerful demonstration of your Spirit. Shake the foundations of the earth with your Word and presence in our midst and grant your people ears to hear and a willingness to obey through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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