As soon as you get out of bed in the morning or before bed, you should bless yourself with the sign of the Holy Cross and say:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pray the Psalm for the day:
Morning 89 Evening 90-92

The Daily Lectionary is read:
Joshua 9:22-10:15
Romans 15:14-24
Matthew 27:1-10

Read the Devotion

God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Temptation surrounds you. You are tempted to avoid Divine Services. You are tempted to make false gods by giving more attention and higher priority to any number of things you enjoy rather than to the Lord. At times, these feel overwhelming!

Temptation surrounded the Christians in Corinth. Many had come from idolatrous backgrounds. Some grumbled against God as the ancient Israelites had. Others had problems with fornication and other sexual temptations.

St. Paul tells you that even in the midst of temptation, you are not overtaken. At first glance, it may seem that God has somehow given you the ability to fight these temptations and get yourself out of these messes. Not so!

The Explanation of the Third Article reminds us, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength…” It is not that God has endowed you with some supernatural ability or “grace” to fight the evil one. You desire the temptation. You don’t fight it. In fact, you might end up like the cartoon watchdog that befriends the burglar for the price of a T-bone steak!

There is an expression: “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” This is one of those bumper-sticker philosophies that might have originated in someone’s misunderstanding of this passage. God indeed gives us more than we can handle!

Does that frighten you? Actually, it shouldn’t. You don’t need to worry. The reality is that God doesn’t give you more than He can handle. Jesus fights for you! He is your way of escape.

Temptation does surround us, but Jesus has endured temptation for you, died in your place, and risen for you! He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Way of escape carries you safely through this valley of the shadow of death, rescuing you from the pitfalls of the tempter.

Rejoice with Saint Paul, dear Christians! Jesus is your way of escape! He will bring you through your final escape of death, to life eternal with Him!

Then, kneeling or standing, Pray the Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church,* the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Pray The Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen

If you wish, you may then pray this little prayer as well:

In the Morning

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

In the Evening

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into your hands I commend myself, my body and soul and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

After that, with joy go about your work and perhaps say the Ten Commandments or sing a hymn. At night, go to sleep immediately with joy.

¶ 8/18/2006 07:57:00 AM 0 Comments