Bible Sunday 8/4: Hang Tough, Believer

Studying this morning's four readings from the St. James Daily Devotional Guide (click to subscribe), I examined myself with these questions. Where is your self-examination leading today?

Psalms 86:1-17. Verses 5-7, calling on God. Today is my prayer urgent or routine? Do I cry to God and supplicate him, or merely go through the motions, check off the box?

II Samuel 20:1-26. Joab’s brutal way of dispensing with King David’s enemies. What is my daily prayer for greater reliance on God and less reliance on government at this election season?

Philemon 1-25. Verses 9 and 23, prisoners of Jesus Christ. If I accept this as my status today, what specific attitudes and actions toward others will naturally follow?

Mark 13:14-27. If the situation for Christians is going to become worse, much worse, before it gets better, how shall I keep up my faith, my strength, my hope and joy in the Lord?

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To go deeper, see interpretive notes by Bible scholar Patrick Reardon for many of this week's readings.