"When I want to do good, evil is right with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work in my members. What a wretched man I am!" Rom 7:21-24
The most significant obstacle in my walk with God is the Enemy's effort keep me in the same place on the spiritual growth curve. Because of sin and its strong appeal to my flesh, I find myself losing energy in a continuous spiral of "Sin-Confession-Repentance-Sin." How often I find myself re plowing the same ground as if I am on a treadmill, spending lots of energy but not moving forward.
Paul gets to the root of the problem, I believe, in his letter to the Romans. Even Paul laments that while his inner being delights in pleasing God by obeying his law, other members of his body are equally at work opposing the law. The "waging of war" Paul says, makes him a "prisoner of sin" in his own body. Paul gives us hope of rescue from the treadmill through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, cleansing us completely of our sins, freeing us from the sin that continually keeps us pinned down.
While, I am thankful and joyful that Jesus has saved me from my sinful nature, I pray in earnest for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit such that my progress forward with God will not be slowed by "the Treadmill.'' We should all pray for less repetition of our old ways and more love within our hearts for God and his law.
My Prayer: Father, forgive me for the sin of repetitious sin. Forgive me for staying on the treadmill, and not moving ahead with you on a spiritual growth curve that will make me more like Jesus and less like myself. I love you Father and I thank you so much for the gift of your Son that would rescue us from the cycle of sin, confession, repentance and repeated sin. Move us along the path toward perfection through your Son Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Love is the Fulfillment of the Law
"...whatever the commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Rom 13:9-10
These are very interesting times. Everything seems to be coming at us faster and it seems bad news awaits us every time we read the paper or watch television. Gas prices are up and home sales are down. Mortgages are being foreclosed and thousands lose their jobs every month. What used to represent stability in our lives no longer can be trusted. How can things get any worse?
Its hard to love your neighbor when times are difficult. I can't help them financially when I don't know how I am going to pay the light bill. I know Bill and Jenny are having marriage problems but I don't have very much time to see how they are doing, since I started working this second job.
The Enemy works in so many ways to keep us from doing what God wants us to do. He works through others to create the perfect storms in our lives keeping the focus on ourselves and not on fulfilling what God wants us to do. Its not easy to love our neighbors when we have to make the car payment.
Paul writes "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Rom 13:21 We can certainly be "overcome" by our situation. We can let it consume us until we are paralyzed and unable to do what God would have us do. We must be aware of this trap and take the time to love both God and our neighbors and therefore drive out the evil of busyness and worry.
God knew exactly what was coming in this season and he gave us many verses of scripture to help us endure. We must therefore be obedient to his word and continue to put our situations aside and serve the Lord and our fellow man even when it is difficult. Stop and say hello to a friend you haven't seen in awhile. Volunteer to visit folks in the hospital. Ask a co-worker to come to church with you next Sunday. It doesn't take much time to show love to someone.
My prayer: Father in these difficult and uncertain times help us to focus on our neighbor and not ourselves. Give us direction and make a way for us to see beyond our own situation and prepare a path in order to serve others. Forgive us Lord when we stumble and help us never to be lacking in zeal but to be overflowing with spiritual fervor. I ask these things so that your truth may be spread to a confused and scared world. I pray in joyful hope of the return of our Savior, and in His mighty Name. Amen!
These are very interesting times. Everything seems to be coming at us faster and it seems bad news awaits us every time we read the paper or watch television. Gas prices are up and home sales are down. Mortgages are being foreclosed and thousands lose their jobs every month. What used to represent stability in our lives no longer can be trusted. How can things get any worse?
Its hard to love your neighbor when times are difficult. I can't help them financially when I don't know how I am going to pay the light bill. I know Bill and Jenny are having marriage problems but I don't have very much time to see how they are doing, since I started working this second job.
The Enemy works in so many ways to keep us from doing what God wants us to do. He works through others to create the perfect storms in our lives keeping the focus on ourselves and not on fulfilling what God wants us to do. Its not easy to love our neighbors when we have to make the car payment.
Paul writes "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Rom 13:21 We can certainly be "overcome" by our situation. We can let it consume us until we are paralyzed and unable to do what God would have us do. We must be aware of this trap and take the time to love both God and our neighbors and therefore drive out the evil of busyness and worry.
God knew exactly what was coming in this season and he gave us many verses of scripture to help us endure. We must therefore be obedient to his word and continue to put our situations aside and serve the Lord and our fellow man even when it is difficult. Stop and say hello to a friend you haven't seen in awhile. Volunteer to visit folks in the hospital. Ask a co-worker to come to church with you next Sunday. It doesn't take much time to show love to someone.
My prayer: Father in these difficult and uncertain times help us to focus on our neighbor and not ourselves. Give us direction and make a way for us to see beyond our own situation and prepare a path in order to serve others. Forgive us Lord when we stumble and help us never to be lacking in zeal but to be overflowing with spiritual fervor. I ask these things so that your truth may be spread to a confused and scared world. I pray in joyful hope of the return of our Savior, and in His mighty Name. Amen!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Love One Another Sincerely
"Let love be sincere.....Be affectionate to one another, with brotherly love...." Rom 12:9-10
Life seems to consume us with it's busyness. I just moved into a new house and have not been faithful to my devotional writing of late. I wanted to write everyday this year but like most things we promise ourselves and often God, they seem to get pushed aside in our hectic lives.
Love is like that too. We are just too busy for one another. A text message on my son's birthday, it slipped my mind this year; a missed dance recital, another late night at the office. We all have excuses.
The problem is we are not aligned with what God wants us to do. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul," says the Lord "and your neighbor as yourself." Well, if I have the time.
God gave us just two things to do. Sincerely love him and love our fellow man with the same zeal as we love ourselves. We don't. We try but like my promise to the devotional we start off well but we don't finish. Something always gets in the way. Some people after all just aren't that loveable....
What's your excuse? Did your boss really make you angry today? Was it your husband who never takes the time to say that you look pretty any more? Maybe its your children who seem to have more time for their friends than to go to the movies as a family.
Paul reiterates what Jesus said, "Love one another," with brotherly affection. But when you do it make your love sincere. Love each other like you would want to be loved and love God that way too. Its all in the heart and we must take the time to do it. Its what God asks of us as adopted members of his family, his children.
My prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus your Son, I ask for your forgiveness once again for falling short of my obligation to love sincerely. I have not taken the time because I am selfish and too absorbed with my own life to consider loving my neighbor. I have been too busy to stop and talk with you Daddy and I know how that disappoints you. Grant me a new sense of connection to you and to those around me. Help me to love them when they are not lovable and make me more easy to love. Thank you for your mercy and constant patience. I do love you Father and I am learning more how to love everyone around me consistently. Thank you for your grace. I pray in earnest for all to come to know you and to begin to love one another with sincerity and zeal. In Jesus name, Amen!
Life seems to consume us with it's busyness. I just moved into a new house and have not been faithful to my devotional writing of late. I wanted to write everyday this year but like most things we promise ourselves and often God, they seem to get pushed aside in our hectic lives.
Love is like that too. We are just too busy for one another. A text message on my son's birthday, it slipped my mind this year; a missed dance recital, another late night at the office. We all have excuses.
The problem is we are not aligned with what God wants us to do. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul," says the Lord "and your neighbor as yourself." Well, if I have the time.
God gave us just two things to do. Sincerely love him and love our fellow man with the same zeal as we love ourselves. We don't. We try but like my promise to the devotional we start off well but we don't finish. Something always gets in the way. Some people after all just aren't that loveable....
What's your excuse? Did your boss really make you angry today? Was it your husband who never takes the time to say that you look pretty any more? Maybe its your children who seem to have more time for their friends than to go to the movies as a family.
Paul reiterates what Jesus said, "Love one another," with brotherly affection. But when you do it make your love sincere. Love each other like you would want to be loved and love God that way too. Its all in the heart and we must take the time to do it. Its what God asks of us as adopted members of his family, his children.
My prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus your Son, I ask for your forgiveness once again for falling short of my obligation to love sincerely. I have not taken the time because I am selfish and too absorbed with my own life to consider loving my neighbor. I have been too busy to stop and talk with you Daddy and I know how that disappoints you. Grant me a new sense of connection to you and to those around me. Help me to love them when they are not lovable and make me more easy to love. Thank you for your mercy and constant patience. I do love you Father and I am learning more how to love everyone around me consistently. Thank you for your grace. I pray in earnest for all to come to know you and to begin to love one another with sincerity and zeal. In Jesus name, Amen!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Waiting on God
"(Abraham), who against all hope, believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken..." Rom 4:18
"Are we there yet?" How often we parents here that on a long car trip. I wonder how often God hears it from us in our prayers!
"When will he ask me to marry him, Father?" "How long are you going to make me wait for this promotion God?" "Lord, when will you bring my husband back to me?" I'm sure God hears our requests and millions of others, all day every day!
So why does God make us wait? Doesn't he want his children to have good gifts?
Of course he wants the best for us. That is why he has us wait. Most often, I have found in my relationship with the Father that he has me wait because either I am not prepared for the blessing he is about to send me or what I think I want is not the best thing for me.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, " said the Lord in Revelation 22:13. He was the first to exist and he will be the last. God knows the lives of every human being who was ever born or will be born and he knows how their lives (believers and non-believers) fit together. Our Father orchestrates everything that happens through the circumstances of our daily lives. He opens and closes doors to the obedient and the disobedient. He gives us free will to follow his will and to go our own way.
It has been said often, "God's timing is not our timing." I believe that. If we are to be faithful believers walking in friendship and fellowship with our Father, we must learn to ask God and then trust that he hears us and will give us the proper answer (not necessarily yes) at the proper time (not necessarily now). Jesus taught us that our Father only wants to give his children "good gifts." He wants us to have bread not "a stone," fish not "a snake." But, we must learn to be patient and wait on God.
My prayer: Father, we are impatient children. We live in a "right now" world. We crave constant stimulation and immediate satisfaction. Teach us Daddy to wait for you. Teach us to trust you and that you only want the best for us and your Kingdom. Lord, I am sorry that I have not trusted that you provide the goodness in my life. Open doors that I should walk through and close those which would be harmful. Give me the wisdom to recognize the difference between them and choose wisely. Use me for your purpose Father. I want to serve you and not myself because I love you. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen!
"Are we there yet?" How often we parents here that on a long car trip. I wonder how often God hears it from us in our prayers!
"When will he ask me to marry him, Father?" "How long are you going to make me wait for this promotion God?" "Lord, when will you bring my husband back to me?" I'm sure God hears our requests and millions of others, all day every day!
So why does God make us wait? Doesn't he want his children to have good gifts?
Of course he wants the best for us. That is why he has us wait. Most often, I have found in my relationship with the Father that he has me wait because either I am not prepared for the blessing he is about to send me or what I think I want is not the best thing for me.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, " said the Lord in Revelation 22:13. He was the first to exist and he will be the last. God knows the lives of every human being who was ever born or will be born and he knows how their lives (believers and non-believers) fit together. Our Father orchestrates everything that happens through the circumstances of our daily lives. He opens and closes doors to the obedient and the disobedient. He gives us free will to follow his will and to go our own way.
It has been said often, "God's timing is not our timing." I believe that. If we are to be faithful believers walking in friendship and fellowship with our Father, we must learn to ask God and then trust that he hears us and will give us the proper answer (not necessarily yes) at the proper time (not necessarily now). Jesus taught us that our Father only wants to give his children "good gifts." He wants us to have bread not "a stone," fish not "a snake." But, we must learn to be patient and wait on God.
My prayer: Father, we are impatient children. We live in a "right now" world. We crave constant stimulation and immediate satisfaction. Teach us Daddy to wait for you. Teach us to trust you and that you only want the best for us and your Kingdom. Lord, I am sorry that I have not trusted that you provide the goodness in my life. Open doors that I should walk through and close those which would be harmful. Give me the wisdom to recognize the difference between them and choose wisely. Use me for your purpose Father. I want to serve you and not myself because I love you. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
One Way to the Father
"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6
I have to admit, not being very surprised when I heard a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life had found "that most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to faith."
"Non-dogmatic," interesting word choice.....
"A majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, for instance, do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation," the summary explained. The Pew researchers concluded, the study "did not suggest that Americans do not take religion seriously." Rather, the statistics revealed, "more than nine-in-ten Americans (92%) believe in the existence of God or a universal spirit," (what is that?) but "there is considerable variation in the nature and certainty of this belief." Sounds like double-speak to me......
While I am skeptical of the motivations of the study and I am not sure how Pew selected the 35,000 respondents, I believe that the study is representative of where most, who call themselves religious, are in their faith. However, let's let God's truth speak on the subject....
When Jesus called his closest followers (the twelve) together just before he was to be lead away and crucified, he explained to them what was about to happen. In response to Thomas' question about the way Jesus was about to go.....Jesus spoke the only answer a christian believer needs to know when a researcher asks about the way to salvation. There is nothing complex about the answer nothing "non-dagmatic" about Jesus' response. He is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to his Father except through a relationship with him his son. Jesus, afterall, came from the Father, he should know the way home.
We serve the Creator of the universe our God and Father sitting on his throne in heaven. He sent his only son who we called Jesus the Christ. He became the hands and feet of his Father on the physical earth and he became the model for which we as christians are to attain by trusting in him to be the only way we can approach our Father. There is no other way, but Jesus and until "christians" everywhere proclaim that fact with confidence, they will not enjoy the abundant life God wants to provide for them.
Prayer: Father, in the name of your son Jesus, who told us that whatever we ask in his name it will be granted unto us according to your will, I pray for all who call themselves believers who have been deceived by the prince of this world into believing a lie. The lie of Islam, the lie of Buddism, the lie of Hinduism, of witchcraft, and whatever man-made idols money, materialism, greed, and the like that are from the Father of Lies and have been exposed and defeated already through Jesus on the cross. Thank you Lord for exposing these idols of false worship and help us as believers to tear them down where they exist in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. Thank you Father for your mercy and forgiveness. Heal us from the sins of our unbelief and create in us a new heart of trust in you. I love you Father and I thank you for your unending grace. Fill us all with the power of your Holy Spirit and renew our strength to walk boldly in your Kingdom and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to all (including the 35,000) who live in this fallen world. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen!
I have to admit, not being very surprised when I heard a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life had found "that most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to faith."
"Non-dogmatic," interesting word choice.....
"A majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, for instance, do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation," the summary explained. The Pew researchers concluded, the study "did not suggest that Americans do not take religion seriously." Rather, the statistics revealed, "more than nine-in-ten Americans (92%) believe in the existence of God or a universal spirit," (what is that?) but "there is considerable variation in the nature and certainty of this belief." Sounds like double-speak to me......
While I am skeptical of the motivations of the study and I am not sure how Pew selected the 35,000 respondents, I believe that the study is representative of where most, who call themselves religious, are in their faith. However, let's let God's truth speak on the subject....
When Jesus called his closest followers (the twelve) together just before he was to be lead away and crucified, he explained to them what was about to happen. In response to Thomas' question about the way Jesus was about to go.....Jesus spoke the only answer a christian believer needs to know when a researcher asks about the way to salvation. There is nothing complex about the answer nothing "non-dagmatic" about Jesus' response. He is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to his Father except through a relationship with him his son. Jesus, afterall, came from the Father, he should know the way home.
We serve the Creator of the universe our God and Father sitting on his throne in heaven. He sent his only son who we called Jesus the Christ. He became the hands and feet of his Father on the physical earth and he became the model for which we as christians are to attain by trusting in him to be the only way we can approach our Father. There is no other way, but Jesus and until "christians" everywhere proclaim that fact with confidence, they will not enjoy the abundant life God wants to provide for them.
Prayer: Father, in the name of your son Jesus, who told us that whatever we ask in his name it will be granted unto us according to your will, I pray for all who call themselves believers who have been deceived by the prince of this world into believing a lie. The lie of Islam, the lie of Buddism, the lie of Hinduism, of witchcraft, and whatever man-made idols money, materialism, greed, and the like that are from the Father of Lies and have been exposed and defeated already through Jesus on the cross. Thank you Lord for exposing these idols of false worship and help us as believers to tear them down where they exist in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. Thank you Father for your mercy and forgiveness. Heal us from the sins of our unbelief and create in us a new heart of trust in you. I love you Father and I thank you for your unending grace. Fill us all with the power of your Holy Spirit and renew our strength to walk boldly in your Kingdom and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to all (including the 35,000) who live in this fallen world. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Courage
"Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me." Job 40:7
Does God demand from us? If so, what? What could the Creator of the universe possibly need from us? Nothing! He doesn't need anything from us. He does however, want our hearts. He demands our desire for him. We can't be in thisrelationship with him just for what we can get out of it. We must be committed to service, dedicated to the Kingdom. I love this stanza from a worship song by Hillsong United:
"Heal my heart and make it clean.
Open up my eyes to the things unseen.
Show me how to love like you have loved me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours.
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause.
As I walk from earth into eternity."
"Break my heart for what breaks yours. Everything I am for your kingdom's cause," let that settle on you for a couple minutes. I have to ask myself, does my heart break for the things that break God's heart? Or am I too wrapped up in myslef to care about how much my neighbor is hurting? God wants everything we are all the time for his "Kingdom's cause." Am I ready to respond to that?
The Lord really loves us and he wants us to love him and one another, with the same passion He has. The Enemy on the other hand, is successful if he can just keep us one level below that which God wants. The Lord is telling Job, a mighty godly man, by the world's standards that he he has missed the mark and needs to "man-up" and take his place back on God's team. Now more feeling sorry for your shortcommings Job ("John"), its time to be ready to be "demanded of" by God. If we are ready, then God also promises he "will declare (us) unto him." In other words, God has our back!
Father, forgive me for being so prideful and selfish that I would not hurt for the things that hurt you and love my fellow man enough to care about how it breaks your heart. Restore my life and make me useful again. Cleanse me in the blood of the Lamb and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Show me Lord how to love like you love me and use all of me for your Kingdom's cause. I lift my praises to the heavens and declare that you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords! I love you Father! Please use me and strengthen my resolve to respond like you would. I pray in earnest and in the name of
Does God demand from us? If so, what? What could the Creator of the universe possibly need from us? Nothing! He doesn't need anything from us. He does however, want our hearts. He demands our desire for him. We can't be in thisrelationship with him just for what we can get out of it. We must be committed to service, dedicated to the Kingdom. I love this stanza from a worship song by Hillsong United:
"Heal my heart and make it clean.
Open up my eyes to the things unseen.
Show me how to love like you have loved me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours.
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause.
As I walk from earth into eternity."
"Break my heart for what breaks yours. Everything I am for your kingdom's cause," let that settle on you for a couple minutes. I have to ask myself, does my heart break for the things that break God's heart? Or am I too wrapped up in myslef to care about how much my neighbor is hurting? God wants everything we are all the time for his "Kingdom's cause." Am I ready to respond to that?
The Lord really loves us and he wants us to love him and one another, with the same passion He has. The Enemy on the other hand, is successful if he can just keep us one level below that which God wants. The Lord is telling Job, a mighty godly man, by the world's standards that he he has missed the mark and needs to "man-up" and take his place back on God's team. Now more feeling sorry for your shortcommings Job ("John"), its time to be ready to be "demanded of" by God. If we are ready, then God also promises he "will declare (us) unto him." In other words, God has our back!
Father, forgive me for being so prideful and selfish that I would not hurt for the things that hurt you and love my fellow man enough to care about how it breaks your heart. Restore my life and make me useful again. Cleanse me in the blood of the Lamb and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Show me Lord how to love like you love me and use all of me for your Kingdom's cause. I lift my praises to the heavens and declare that you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords! I love you Father! Please use me and strengthen my resolve to respond like you would. I pray in earnest and in the name of
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Pride
"How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!" Obadiah 6
The Lord has been dealing with me lately concerning pride. I hadn't thought much about having a problem with pride until I started listening to God more carefully. I never read Obadiah either until I heard God say Obadiah 5,6. In my ignorance, I tried to find Obadiah 5:6 only to realize the book was only a single chapter but so very powerful.
I read these obscure verses, "If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!" and thought, huh? Lord, what are you trying to tell me? thieves? robbers? grapes? What does this have to do with me?
My research on Obadiah uncovered that the purpose of the book is to announce the destruction of Edom because of her pride and sin against Judah. Further, I learned that Edom and Judah's feud started with Esau and Jacob. In the Book of Genesis is told the story of how Esau's pride allowed him to be tricked by his brother Jacob into giving away his birthright to his younger brother Jacob. This incident resulted in a long fought feud between the brothers which carried onto their ancestors in Edom and Judah during the time of Obadiah.
The more I uncovered about the prophet and heard from God, the more parallels I saw between my Pride (Esau/Edom) and the will of God (Jacob/Jesus "the lion of the tribe of Judah . Obadiah was writing to comfort Judah by announcing Edom's destruction and Judah's restoration and deliverance in the Day of the Lord. Simultaneously, the Lord announced to me the destruction of Pride in my life so that he could use me more effectively for his Kingdom. What an awesome God!
I am still a long way from totally breaking the power and influence of my Pride. I think partially because it is so subtle and manifests itself in so many different ways. I am however grateful that the Lord is peeling it away layer by layer.
Father, forgive me for the sin of Pride. Help me to recognize the many faces of pride in my life so that they can be isolated and removed by the root. Heal me by the blood of Christ and restore me into a usable servant. I love you Father and I am so thankful for your grace. Help me to continue to hear your still small voice as you tear down the strongholds in my life. I ask these things in the Name above all names, Jesus Christ! Amen
The Lord has been dealing with me lately concerning pride. I hadn't thought much about having a problem with pride until I started listening to God more carefully. I never read Obadiah either until I heard God say Obadiah 5,6. In my ignorance, I tried to find Obadiah 5:6 only to realize the book was only a single chapter but so very powerful.
I read these obscure verses, "If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!" and thought, huh? Lord, what are you trying to tell me? thieves? robbers? grapes? What does this have to do with me?
My research on Obadiah uncovered that the purpose of the book is to announce the destruction of Edom because of her pride and sin against Judah. Further, I learned that Edom and Judah's feud started with Esau and Jacob. In the Book of Genesis is told the story of how Esau's pride allowed him to be tricked by his brother Jacob into giving away his birthright to his younger brother Jacob. This incident resulted in a long fought feud between the brothers which carried onto their ancestors in Edom and Judah during the time of Obadiah.
The more I uncovered about the prophet and heard from God, the more parallels I saw between my Pride (Esau/Edom) and the will of God (Jacob/Jesus "the lion of the tribe of Judah . Obadiah was writing to comfort Judah by announcing Edom's destruction and Judah's restoration and deliverance in the Day of the Lord. Simultaneously, the Lord announced to me the destruction of Pride in my life so that he could use me more effectively for his Kingdom. What an awesome God!
I am still a long way from totally breaking the power and influence of my Pride. I think partially because it is so subtle and manifests itself in so many different ways. I am however grateful that the Lord is peeling it away layer by layer.
Father, forgive me for the sin of Pride. Help me to recognize the many faces of pride in my life so that they can be isolated and removed by the root. Heal me by the blood of Christ and restore me into a usable servant. I love you Father and I am so thankful for your grace. Help me to continue to hear your still small voice as you tear down the strongholds in my life. I ask these things in the Name above all names, Jesus Christ! Amen
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