Anglican Daily Fountain 14th February 2024 (Devotional Today)
Welcome to Today’s Daily Fountain Devotional of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Daily Fountain is a daily reading devotional for all Anglicans and Non-Anglicans to read, study, share and discuss the Word of God on a daily basis.
TOPIC: FIRST DAY IN LENT
TEXT: Psalm 51: 1-19(KJV)
51:1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
51:2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
51:3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
51:4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
51:5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
51:6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
51:7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
51:8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
51:9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
51:10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
51:11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
51:12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
51:13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
51:14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
51:15. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
51:16. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
51:17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
51:18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
51:19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Anglican Daily Fountain 14th February 2024 STUDY:
In this passage, the Psalmist pleads for God’s mercy and forgiveness. He acknowledges his sin against God and reminds Him that he was born in sin. He asks God to have mercy on him by:(i) Washing and cleansing him from sin,(ii) Creating a clean heart and renewing a steadfast spirit in him, (iii)Not taking away the Holy Spirit from him, (iv) Restoring his joy of salvation, (v) Opening his mouth so that he would praise the Lord.
Today is Ash Wednesday or the first day in Lent when Christians are to look into their lives and sinfulness. Ash Wednesday is a holy day of fasting and prayer. Christians are expected to humble themselves before God during Lent by drawing closer to Him, confessing their sins, abstaining from food and drinks, and pleading with God for forgiveness and cleansing from their sins (1 John 1: 8-10). Decide to fast and pray from 6am to 6pm if you can, throughout this Lenten season. If, for any reason you cannot fast that long, you can start at 6am and end by 12 noon or 3 pm, but make out a time to fast and pray this season. Your spiritual life will be greatly improved.
PRAYER: Hear my humble cry O Lord; and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
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