The Making of Spiritual Warrior - Week 7 - Monday Morning Devotions
Good morning and welcome to Daily Chapel - today's focus is on 'The Making of a Spiritual Warrior.' The making of a spiritual warrior involves three basic training components. These three components are to be repeated on a daily basis. They are Prayer, Meditation on God's Sacred Word, and Temptation or suffering. All of this week we have reflected on this Spiritual Warrior basic training conditioning - with the Holy Spirit being the real teacher of Sacred Scriptures.
Please allow God's Spirit to speak to you as you listen to Psalm 119, beginning with verse 169.
Psalm 119 ת Taw
169 May my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word.
170 May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.
171 May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.
172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.
173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.
175 Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me.
176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.
Today I would like you to especially focus on this final verse: I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands. Yes, we know from God's Sacred Word and from reflecting on our own lives that we all like sheep have strayed away from the Shepherd. You have strayed away from Jesus the good shepherd. You have not always lived your life according to God's laws.
The Good News is that Jesus, the Good Shepherd that He is, has looked for you, and today through the work of the Holy Spirit has called out to you. For the Christian Spiritual Warrior, you have turned back to Jesus, you have repented, you have humbled yourself. Jesus the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for you and promises you life with Him in paradise. It truly does not get any better than that!
Please pray with me: Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.