Ithaca Devotions

Thursday May 14, 2026

A Psalm of David. [1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Exceeding Great & Precious Promise

The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way. Psa. 25:9

      Meekness = patient submission to the Divine will. R2586,c1
   While God permits wilful men to fall into erroneous views and to prosper in spreading them, He does, on the other hand, guide the meek in judgment and teach them His way, and He raises up a standard for them by which they are enabled to see the truth and to distinguish it from error. And though, in this "evil day" a thousand shall fall under those errors, they shall not overthrow the meek ones whom the Lord is pledged to guide and to keep from falling. R1268,c1,p3
   He who learns this lesson (of meekness) is getting the most important preparation for Divine service. R5261,c1,p5

Daily Heavenly Manna (May 14)

Speaking the truth in love,...grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:15

WHAT is it to grow in grace? It is to grow in favor with the Lord through an intimate personal acquaintance and fellowship of spirit with Him...To grow thus in grace and not grow in knowledge is impossible; for the very object of such communion is to build us up in a more perfect knowledge and acquaintance with the Lord – to bring us into closer fellowship with the divine plan, and to give us the privilege of being "workers together with Him" in executing that plan. If, therefore, we love and obey the Lord and desire to grow in His favor, His written Word is our daily meditation and study; and thus we grow in knowledge. `Z.'03-200` R3215:3

Weekly Manna (May 7)

Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:16

WE should be prompt to tell others the best tidings we have; sympathy with the groaning creation in the various trials of life should lead us to point to the Lord's promises respecting the coming Kingdom and the blessings that should then be to all the families of the earth. Whoever does not thus proclaim daily, on every suitable opportunity, gives evidence either of lack of knowledge or of faith in the revelation, or of selfishness, which the Lord cannot approve, and which, if persisted in, will ultimately debar him from a share in the Kingdom. `Z.'03-174` R3205:1