THIS WAS NECESSARY TO DO AND NOT LEAVE THE OTHER

Devotional for Monday May 9, 2022

Sometimes it happens that we stop having prayer time or we stop doing vigils and fasts, because it seems too much, but God has surprised me with the following comparison: Why don't we stop eating or sleeping, things we do daily, and even some of them even more than once a day? We do not stop because they are necessary for the body. It is also true that spiritual activities are important for the soul. The same soul that the Scriptures says it is necessary to save, even if we must lose everything to save it. Some people may say that they do not feel good doing these activities, but God tells us how many times have you had bad experiences with sleep or food, and you continue eating and sleeping? We even look for remedies, advice, alternatives to improve our eating and sleeping, simply because we have realized how necessary it is for us. So, let's focus on the spiritual life, at all costs, daily, by force of will, because nothing else can make us feel alive and fulfilled.

Written by Natileydis González,

Translated by Maria Elena Cardona

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Morning 1 Timothy 4:11-16

11 These things command and teach.

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee

Noon Psalm 30

1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Evening 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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Prayer Guide: [México-Distrito Federal] and [Cuba-Turey]

This month's challenge is: Identify each character virtue of Christ and incorporate it into your own character. Spend more time with the people you love. Evaluate daily if your behavior resembles that of Jesus. Constantly ask yourself before making a decision or doing anything, what would Christ have done in my place? Study more deeply the life of Christ and ask God to help you be a better Christian.

Annual Bible reading: Nehemiah 10, 11, 12