083008
Ezekiel 8:12Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.'"
Ezekiel, the prophet is being shown all the abominations of the people and priests of Israel and Judah. One of the abominations is what the elders were doing behind closed doors. When they thought no one was looking, they had their pictures that they liked to worship. Also, the Lord knew that they were saying in their hearts, "The Lord doesn't see us because He has left the land." But the Lord will never forsake us, and He has to be just. He sees everything and we are foolish to think that He doesn't know our deepest, darkest secrets and sins.
I've been guilty of secretly thinking something and saying to myself, no one knows what I'm thinking. But I need to remember that God knows every intention and desire of my heart. I cannot hide from the Lord, which is a very good thing, because if I could do that, then God would not be just. The best thing I can do is confess to God and repent. I can ask Him to forgive me and truly make the effort to change my ways. In a past devotion, I learned that God can overcome the desires of my heart. Today, I need God to do just that. I need His forgiveness. I need His sovereignty in my life.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being a just God. Lord Jesus, thank You for coming and making it possible for me to be sanctified by Your Holy sacrifice. I ask for Your forgiveness, Lord. I've been struggling with my private thoughts. I need You to overcome my heart's desires. Teach me to be more and more like You. Lord, I ask that You would rule over my dreams. Lord, in my dreams, I need Your authority the most. Please bring me peace in my dreams, Lord, so that when I wake up, I am prepared to do Your righteousness. Thank You, Lord. I love You. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Hearts are deceiving
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Jeremiah the prophet writes these words and it is followed by God’s answer which is the He searches the heart and examines the mind. God is just because He knows everything that we feel, think, and are motivated by. Jeremiah is right to say that the heart is deceitful. In the heart are hidden desires and passions. Much of the flesh’s ways are attached to the heart. It is only when we have Jesus ruling within our hearts can we overcome the sin of our flesh. We must bring our flesh under discipline by dying to the desires of our hearts and choosing Jesus’ Word above all else.
Last night, I was in a bad mood going to bed. I was so troubled because I felt like someone I had been mentoring was still choosing to take the path of the world. I got so frustrated, thinking, “Can’t she see that if she would just be obedient to God in this area, then she will be greatly blessed?” This morning, God gives me Jeremiah 17:9 to remind me that not even my heart is righteous or good. Truly, the heart is deceitful, even to the person whom the heart belongs to. I’m sure this girl never meant to purposefully grieve me and the Holy Spirit, but she did. This helps me to take a step back and look at my own life. Am I grieving the Holy Spirit? Just because my friends and family don’t search my heart or examine my mind, I’m sure they would agree that I am a good person. But, when I really look inside my heart, I see the deceit. I see how much junk I have in there and it is ugly! It stinks! But, I can ask Jesus to forgive me and to take control over my heart. He is the one who can overcome my flesh’s desires, but I have to ask Him to. He will not force His power upon me. Today, may I take my focus off of other people’s hearts and really take the time to work on disciplining my own.
Heavenly Father, I love You, Lord! I ask for Your forgiveness again. Lord, thank You for Your grace. Jesus, make Your power glorious within my heart. I give You full permission and authority over my flesh. Help me to discipline myself and die to my worldly desires. Purify me, oh Lord. I pray that You help me to forgive my friend, and that I treat her with your grace and agape love. I pray for Your healing upon Your children, that we may be a testimony of Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
Jeremiah the prophet writes these words and it is followed by God’s answer which is the He searches the heart and examines the mind. God is just because He knows everything that we feel, think, and are motivated by. Jeremiah is right to say that the heart is deceitful. In the heart are hidden desires and passions. Much of the flesh’s ways are attached to the heart. It is only when we have Jesus ruling within our hearts can we overcome the sin of our flesh. We must bring our flesh under discipline by dying to the desires of our hearts and choosing Jesus’ Word above all else.
Last night, I was in a bad mood going to bed. I was so troubled because I felt like someone I had been mentoring was still choosing to take the path of the world. I got so frustrated, thinking, “Can’t she see that if she would just be obedient to God in this area, then she will be greatly blessed?” This morning, God gives me Jeremiah 17:9 to remind me that not even my heart is righteous or good. Truly, the heart is deceitful, even to the person whom the heart belongs to. I’m sure this girl never meant to purposefully grieve me and the Holy Spirit, but she did. This helps me to take a step back and look at my own life. Am I grieving the Holy Spirit? Just because my friends and family don’t search my heart or examine my mind, I’m sure they would agree that I am a good person. But, when I really look inside my heart, I see the deceit. I see how much junk I have in there and it is ugly! It stinks! But, I can ask Jesus to forgive me and to take control over my heart. He is the one who can overcome my flesh’s desires, but I have to ask Him to. He will not force His power upon me. Today, may I take my focus off of other people’s hearts and really take the time to work on disciplining my own.
Heavenly Father, I love You, Lord! I ask for Your forgiveness again. Lord, thank You for Your grace. Jesus, make Your power glorious within my heart. I give You full permission and authority over my flesh. Help me to discipline myself and die to my worldly desires. Purify me, oh Lord. I pray that You help me to forgive my friend, and that I treat her with your grace and agape love. I pray for Your healing upon Your children, that we may be a testimony of Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
Friday, August 1, 2008
More of Jesus, Less of me
080108
John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.
John and Jesus were both baptizing and people started flocking to be baptized by Jesus. John’s disciples told John that Jesus was baptizing but they seemed jealous, indignant, and upset. They referred to Jesus as “that man,” discounting Jesus’ authority. But John replies that he is not the Christ and that Jesus must become greater and that he must become less.
I want to have a heart like John’s heart. To know that Jesus must become greater in my life and I must become less is the best thing that can happen to us as God’s children. This is my prayer today. I want so badly to feel normal; to have an appetite, to not be tired, to have more energy. But I can’t be all those things. I just can’t. The only way to have a better life is to allow more of Jesus and less of me. What is Jesus doing? Am I allowing Him to do His good work? I must become less. I must place my desires, needs, and wants below Jesus’.
Heavenly Father, I know that You are my healer. I know that You have a purpose for my life. Please help me to become less so You can become greater in my life. Lord, I want all of myself to disappear, and I want all of You to shine through me. Lord, take over my life. I give my life to You. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.
John and Jesus were both baptizing and people started flocking to be baptized by Jesus. John’s disciples told John that Jesus was baptizing but they seemed jealous, indignant, and upset. They referred to Jesus as “that man,” discounting Jesus’ authority. But John replies that he is not the Christ and that Jesus must become greater and that he must become less.
I want to have a heart like John’s heart. To know that Jesus must become greater in my life and I must become less is the best thing that can happen to us as God’s children. This is my prayer today. I want so badly to feel normal; to have an appetite, to not be tired, to have more energy. But I can’t be all those things. I just can’t. The only way to have a better life is to allow more of Jesus and less of me. What is Jesus doing? Am I allowing Him to do His good work? I must become less. I must place my desires, needs, and wants below Jesus’.
Heavenly Father, I know that You are my healer. I know that You have a purpose for my life. Please help me to become less so You can become greater in my life. Lord, I want all of myself to disappear, and I want all of You to shine through me. Lord, take over my life. I give my life to You. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
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