It's been a CRAZY week!!! I'm going to do my best to get us caught up today! Settle in, grab a cup of coffee .... I might be long winded... or not.. we'll see.
Day 13:
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22
I like the phrase "to cleanse us from a guilty conscience". It also says in the Bible that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Guilt isn't from God. Guilt is a wiley device of satan. One that is often effective in turning us away from the face of Christ. But God promises to meet us where we are, wipe our hearts clean, and give us a fresh start. ANYTIME. Night or day. We have an amazing Father who loves us.
Day 14: Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. Since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Peace is NOT the absence of trouble. But the confidence that God is in control THROUGH the trouble. When I initially think of peace I conjure up images of warm summer days, sitting by a tranquil lake, sipping ice tea, a gentle breeze is stirring my shade tree.... the children are playing together like angels and all is well with the world... I related it to the absence of discord or chaos. But REAL and TRUE peace comes from God and it can be present - even in the most trying of times. I have had friends that have experienced incredibly difficult life events tell me that they had an inner peace that they couldn't explain - and yet it was there. God's faithfulness in action.
Day 15: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.
Psalm 51:17
This reminds me of a song we used to sing in church. It is called Hungry....
Day 16: Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1
What a reminder to us... to keep our focus on things of God. To keep our minds set on him and his work.
God didn't sent his son for us so that we could accept him and then ignore the call that left on our hearts and lives.
Day 17: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Already this morning I've been careless with my words and my thoughts. I woke up grouchy as the kids were up early
this morning. Sometimes we can fool ourselves with thinking, "I didn't say anything outloud." or "No one heard me."
How wrong could we be though? God sees and hears all things. He even knows the meditations of our heart.
Day 18: Trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times... not just when things are going well or when things are going not so well. ALL times.
Pour out your heart to him. Think twice before venting to your spouse or picking up the phone and
dialing your best friend! God wants to hear our voice, hear our cries, our frustrations, our anger even.
He knows how we feel anyway...we might as well just tell him!
Day 19: But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24
I think day 19 ties right into day 18! We're to trust in him at all times. One way we can have confidence in Him
and trust him fully is by remembering what he has done for us!! Remembering his faithfulness to provide,
his faithfulness to comfort, his trustworthiness to fulfill that which he promises!
Day 20: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26
I can do nothing on my own. He is my strength. He is my sustainer and provider. Too often I fall back on my
own flesh and I carry myself along for a very short time and I fail. I look around in frustration wondering where
God is and why he allowed such a thing to happen. Then he gently reminds me that I took over...again.
How good to know that he is always waiting to step back into pace with me and lead me.
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