Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
I have lots of hiding places in my heart...secret closets, little nooks and crannys...places where I can shove thoughts, attitudes, choices that I don't want to look at and don't want anyone to see. Especially God! How embarrassing it would be if my heart were an open book!
If I believe the Bible, I must acknowledge that God already knows everything there is to know about me... and He still loves and accepts me! How amazing! This kind of love moves me to stop trying to avoid His inspection. Since I can't hide anything from Him anyway, I want to try something new... purposefully living transparently.
Today, whenever the Holy Spirit reveals something negative in my thoughts or attitudes, I will lay it before the Lord, praise Him for His forgiveness, and move on. How refreshing to come to the end of the day and not have a list of things to confess! :-)
Lord...please help me to live transparently before You today. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who prompts me to keep short accounts with You.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Viewing today through the lens of faith...
Hebrews 3:1 "...fix your thoughts on Jesus..." How easily I am distracted! Like Peter, when he stepped off the boat into the storm...he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. I find that when He is my focus, my frame of reference, my mind doesn't drift to places I don't want to go...places like worry, anxiety, fear, doubt.
When I consciously, prayerfully start the day with the Word of God in my heart and a conversation with Jesus fresh in my mind, I see things differently. I see through eyes of faith. I watch for opportunities to minister. I listen more carefully for the whisper of the Holy Spirit. And, at the end of the day I sense God smiling with pleasure.
Lord, please help me to keep you as the center of my attention today. Help me to interpret all that I experience through the lens of faith. Lead me in an adventure and give me the discernment and wisdom to respond in a way that honors You.
Amen!
When I consciously, prayerfully start the day with the Word of God in my heart and a conversation with Jesus fresh in my mind, I see things differently. I see through eyes of faith. I watch for opportunities to minister. I listen more carefully for the whisper of the Holy Spirit. And, at the end of the day I sense God smiling with pleasure.
Lord, please help me to keep you as the center of my attention today. Help me to interpret all that I experience through the lens of faith. Lead me in an adventure and give me the discernment and wisdom to respond in a way that honors You.
Amen!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Maturing through trials...
Heb 1:10 "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering."
If it was "fitting" ("appropriate") for Jesus to suffer in order to complete the purchase of our salvation, doesn't it follow that God will use suffering as a major component in the process of transforming us into Christ's likeness?
Most of what I consider suffering really falls into the category of inconvenience, and my initial response is rarely praiseworthy. Keeping God's larger purpose in mind helps me to keep the daily irritations in perspective. It also gives me the strength to handle real suffering with perseverance, faith, and even joy.
Jesus - I want to walk the path you have laid out for me today. Regardless of what I encounter along the way, I rejoice that You are walking with me.
Praise God that He sees beyond my present circumstance - He sees the finished product!
If it was "fitting" ("appropriate") for Jesus to suffer in order to complete the purchase of our salvation, doesn't it follow that God will use suffering as a major component in the process of transforming us into Christ's likeness?
Most of what I consider suffering really falls into the category of inconvenience, and my initial response is rarely praiseworthy. Keeping God's larger purpose in mind helps me to keep the daily irritations in perspective. It also gives me the strength to handle real suffering with perseverance, faith, and even joy.
Jesus - I want to walk the path you have laid out for me today. Regardless of what I encounter along the way, I rejoice that You are walking with me.
Praise God that He sees beyond my present circumstance - He sees the finished product!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Served by Angels
I was reading Hebrews 1:14 this morning..."Are they (angels) not God's ministering servants sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?" The word for "ministering servants" describes the primary role of angels - serving in worship of God. Part of that worship involves serving us, God's children! Throughout the Old and New Testaments we have accounts of angels relaying messages from God, rescuing His people from danger, and revealing God's power and resources.
There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that things have changed. God still uses His angels to minister to us, even though we may be unaware of their presence. I know that each morning I invite an angel to sit on the back seat of my motorcycle as I commute to work. :-)
There's an application point for me. I believe that, like the angels, a significant part of my service of worship to God is to serve others. That's consistent with what we read throughout the NT. I need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's direction moment by moment, and respond when He prompts me to minister to the needs of those I encounter.
Praise God for the opportunity to be His ambassador! I truly am blessed by the Best!
There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that things have changed. God still uses His angels to minister to us, even though we may be unaware of their presence. I know that each morning I invite an angel to sit on the back seat of my motorcycle as I commute to work. :-)
There's an application point for me. I believe that, like the angels, a significant part of my service of worship to God is to serve others. That's consistent with what we read throughout the NT. I need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's direction moment by moment, and respond when He prompts me to minister to the needs of those I encounter.
Praise God for the opportunity to be His ambassador! I truly am blessed by the Best!
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