Text: Matthew 5:8, Ezekiel 36:22-28, Psalm 24:1-10, Revelation 22:1-5
The doctor’s office wasn’t on my list of must-see destinations in Italy, but it’s the one I got to check off the list just 72 hours into my semester abroad.
I’d intentionally chosen a program without any familiar faces—just me and the open road! Instead, it was just me… and the scratching. And the hives.
The minute the itchiness ensued, I immediately began washing all my clothes and sheets, then used every last drop of my brand-new bottle of soap in the shower. But it got worse, sending me to the farmacia, which was closed, followed by the doctor’s office, all the while accompanied by a translator who did not know the word for “hives.”
This isn’t the first time I’d taken matters into my own hands, working to scrub away my flaws for a pristine exterior. Just today, I’ve held doors, given compliments, and tweeted Scripture—which are all good things, but my motives are off. And do you know what I see when I do these things? Nothing. I’m hiding so well that I don’t see a thing—not myself, and definitely not God.
Sitting in the doctor’s office chair, I listened to the translator and the doctor intensely converse, unable to decipher what they were saying. Then, the translator turned to me, diagnosing an allergic reaction to an ingredient specific to Italian soap and detergent.
What I’d been using to hide and treat my condition was actually the root of my problem. My attempts to outwardly correct my inward shame had only exposed it more.
When I read, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8), I’m sent scrambling, trying to scrub my heart of its impurities. Reading that verse makes me want to work harder and look better. But in reality, I start to hide more, feel less, and then wonder why I can’t see God in the midst of my shame.
I want to see Him. I want to see Him so badly that I’ve shamed my sinful heart into hiding. But Praise the Lord, He is not hiding from us, and nothing is hidden from Him. God sees us and knows us long before we could ever think to seek Him. He saw us first.
For “Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). He sees us when we are impressive, as well as indecent. He knows our hiding places and wants to give us a better one (Psalm 32:7).
While we are busy trying to correct our outward behavior and conceal our inward brokenness, we miss the work God is already doing:
“For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
–Ezekiel 36:24-28
By His grace, may we stop hiding from Him in shame, and instead turn to face the One who has already blessed us with the purity of Christ and washed us clean.
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Leo update… praise Him. Keep praying, sweet sisters…
“ Overall it was a good week. The big news for the week is that Leo is finally able to eat again. This is huge. It’s what he’s been talking about every day. After a month of no eating you would think his stomach would be the size of a pea. Even still, he managed to eat half of a Chipotle burrito bowl his first meal!
We are hopeful that he will be coming home in a couple of weeks but of course that isn’t certain. He continues to heal, get stronger and his coordination is improved every day.”
I love today’s Scripture. “26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. – Ezekiel 36:26-28”. Oh, how I need a new heart and spirit within me. When I try to “be good” and do the things I think I should, I’m just stirring around the sin in my heart. It’s when I fall to my knees and ask for a new, clean heart that I find forgiveness and cleansing. I pray that God will cleanse my heart anew each day. On my own, I just make a mess.
I receive peace from reading that God is putting a new Spirit within me that I will be able to follow His statutes and be careful to follow His rules. He gives me the cleanliness I could never achieve, no matter how I try.
I’m praying for:
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN-stamina as you grade and have parent conferences. May God give you the words to speak to each parent. Oh, that all teachers cared enough to pray for the right words.
DONNA WOLCOTT – continued prayers for your friend to get out of Gaza and return home safely. And for her family to be safe in such a dangerous place. I’m praying, too, for Israel and its leaders to look to God for guidance and protection.
RHONDA J – your unspoken request.
MICHELLE PATIRE- for the event you are planning; for it to go well and for each leader and participant to receive the blessings God has for each.
MARI V. – For God to provide a way to get your car’s lock fixed. Also for your words and thoughts toward your mom to be sweet and loving. Having lost my mom, I wish I had asked God for gentleness, kind words, and the ears and heart to really hear when she was speaking. God bless the relationship between you and your mom.
I, too, used to sing in the choir, and in duets with my husband. What a blessing to my own soul to practice and give my best for Him. I also miss the fellowship with other choir members. I love today’s praise songs, but think it would be nice to have a service with a choir at least a few times per year.
I often don’t feel I deserve good things due to my sin. This is a hard thing I’ve learned to accept. I deserve good things in my life despite my sin or what I might do because our God isn’t looking for us to mess up. Happy Tuesday ladies!
ALEIDA – a new, smaller home! How exciting! I pray for everything to go well with the sale of your old house, and your purchase of the new one. May God bless you and your new home. I’m praying, too, for Victor. I pray things go well with his IOP and sober living house. I pray that his eyes and heart are open to healing. I pray the trip home is a healing and loving time for you all.
“Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). I often think of this verse when I feel so absolutely useless, and when Satan is so quick to remind me of my sins…the ones that have already been forgiven and washed white as snow. Just as God sees our inmost heart and knows the sinful attitudes or thoughts we might harbor, He also sees straight through to the new heart He has given us. He knows when we desire to obey & follow Him & when we have such a heart for Him but don’t know how to express it or live it out. It reminds me of the lyrics to the song Indescribable by Chris Tomlin – “Incomparable, unchangeable – You see the depths of my heart, And You love me the same, You are amazing, God, You are amazing, God.” He knows our desires, even the ones we can’t seem to bring to fruition. Yes, our God is an amazing God! Thank you God for your long-suffering, patience and goodness to each and everyone of us!
@Tina & @Cee Gee – thank you for sharing, it really helps to see things in a different light. Iron sharpening iron!
@Donna Wolcott – praying that your friend is able to make it back to the states and that her daughter & grand-daughter are kept safe.
@Kristine Loughman – praying for you as you grade and meet with parents, may God give you the stamina and just the right words for each situation!
@Rhonda J. – praying for your unspoken request.
@Michelle Patire – praying that God will give you the wisdom to know what to do. Sometimes the least prepared we are, are the times God uses us in the greatest way – in His strength and not our own!
@Mari V. – praying that God gives you the grace for the right words and that your actions toward your mom will be pleasing to Him.
Have a grace filled, blessed day my sisters!
My house is always clean and tidy. Always…I work hard on the outside, but need to turn to the inside. I try, I do, but as it says in Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. for what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. I fall victim to being lured away by the glitter of this world. To gossip, idolizing our bodies, showing yourself as nice when your heart is whispering something else. To not always appreciating my husband who is the nicest man. We are not perfect. We need to also show ourselves grace so that we can turn to Him, the only one who can help create a pure heart in ourselves. Oh God, please let the lure of You be greater than this world. For I know that in You is where I find peace, comfort, joy, strength, perseverance, and LOVE. Prayers sweet SHE’s.
LYNNE FROM ALABAMA and MICHELLE PATIRE – Bless you, sisters; you made my heart smile! Lynne, I sang in choir and quartet and trio for years and, like you, I miss it so much!!! We have a praise team at our church and the singing is great, but not the same as the fellowship with choir. I am certain that you make God smile when you burst out in song! ❤
Michelle, what a worthy cause! Joining you now in praying for that event/ministry.❤
GOOD morning beautiful She’s☀️. After reading today’s devotional and scriptures, I almost didn’t comment today. I started out by reading all of your comments. And I guess in a way I’m finding myself feeling the same way as most of you. My heart is far from pure for sure. Even last night, when my mother was making conversation, it was getting on my nerves. Though my words weren’t ugly, they weren’t helpful either. I recall that old saying, “if you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything at all.” I should’ve kept my mouth shut last night. But God… As Tina always says. Speaking of Tina, I was so blessed by your words this morning. I am ashamed of how I acted last night but I’m grateful for God‘s encouraging words this morning. It’s a brand new day, clean slate, please, pray that my words and actions would be pleasing to the Lord especially towards my mom.
TOTALLY, unrelated, please pray as I navigate whether to fix my driver side door or not. Unfortunately, someone tried to break into my car and messed up the keyhole and now my car doesn’t beep twice confirming that my car is completely locked. It’s an expense I didn’t need. I was advised to take it to the Honda dealer to see if anything else can be done. Even though I don’t think so, I’m going go anyway. Thankfully, as long as I “look” through the windows at my doors are locked. I think I’m gonna be OK. But I can’t help feel hurt that somebody would do that when I worked hard for this God-given gift on my vehicle.
Good morning, sweet SRT sisters! I am enjoying this study with each of you and am blessed by your insights and comments. CEE GEE—I love all your song suggestions, especially Surely Goodness and Mercy from yesterday. That brought back a lot of memories and I actually burst into song. LOL. I used to sing in the choir and on the praise team but had to stop due to vocal cord issues. My singing this morning was rough and it made me laugh/cringe but I’m sure the Lord enjoyed it!
ALEIDA—I’m praying for you and your husband as you sell your house and move. I’m praying for God to move in Victor’s heart and in his circumstances. Praying for his upcoming visit.
RHONDA J—I’m praying for your unspoken request.
DONNA WOLCOTT—I’m praying for safety for your friend in Israel and for all those there. May God intervene in that whole situation.
I’m praying for all other needs as well. Have a blessed day!
Hi Shes. Just popping in to say I’ve been trying to check in for prayer requests as I read another SRT study until break is over.
@AZ Walker, I appreciate your prayer response and agree!
@Rhonda J- lifting you up and praying God’s blessing and grace to you in your unnamed need. May He show you His goodness and glory.
@Cee Gee- I love this song! My mom and I actually picked this as the opening for a worship gathering we are helping to host Saturday.
I’m kind of conflicted about God’s will for the event. It’s supposed to rain (it is an outdoor event) and my mom and I haven’t had time to practice together at all! Her and my dad just left for a two day anniversary trip. I wonder if that is God’s way of saying it isn’t good timing. My friend and I who are hosting this event are searching for alternative locations indoors to have it, but at this point, I feel very unprepared to lead worship with hardly any practice of music. I don’t normally lead worship publicly. I’ve only done a few small group settings… But I know I am capable of it. We have another singer involved and there is no time for her to practice with us. I am usually a planner and prepper… It’s a whole thing. I’m not really sure what God wants to do with this event. I originally felt a need to pray for the area we are worshipping in (lots of witchcraft and dark things guided as “Halloween” events), but we can do that with or without an event. Anyways. This has been on my mind a lot, but I am believing God to do His will regardless of our lack of plans and preparation.
@Aleida- praying God’s will be done in this visit and Victor will walk away from this seeing God’s grace through yourself and your husband!
@Tina- I saw your comment on the study I am doing from 2017. You are a long haul SRT woman! Lol. I love it! :) Churchmouse was there, too.
Appreciate all you ladies and can’t wait to study with you again, soon!
From Got Questions: The Greek word for “pure” in Matthew 5:8 is katharos. It means to be “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.” Interestingly, the word can refer specifically to that which is purified by fire or by pruning. John the Baptist told people that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). Malachi speaks of the Messiah as being like a “refiner’s fire” (Malachi 3:2). Jesus refers to believers as being the branches and to Himself as being the vine (John 15:1-17). For a vine to produce fruit, it must be pruned. Those who are truly “pure,” then, are those who have been declared innocent because of the work of Jesus and who are being sanctified by His refining fire and His pruning.
Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Along with Psalm 51:10, Ezekiel 36:26 is one of my favorite verses: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
A prayer from Billy Graham web page about this beatitude:
“Forgive me, Lord Jesus, my heart is far from pure. I confess to You all my innermost thoughts.”
One if my favorite songs, too, is Open the Eyes of My Heart:
Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see you
I want to see you
Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see you
I want to see you
To see you high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord..
There’s a lot more to the chorus if you want to look it up! ❤
Lifting each of you and your prayers to our Father. ❤
Praying for you all this morning and your requests, for peace in your homes, improved communication with your loved ones, relief from pain. Praying for Israel, praying for Donna Wolcott’s friend and her friend’s family, praying for the safety of the Israeli soldiers, the hostages, wisdom for their leaders and our world leaders.
GM She’s
Blessed are the Pure of Heart! For they, they will see God!
I can hear the song singing this scripture! It is Elevation Worship “Kingdom.”
I have an unspoken prayer request, ty! And prayers for all of you as always!
@Teresa Donely – Praise God we now know the truth about God’s amazing grace and His mercy that is new every morning!
@Aleida – Continued prayers for your house that is in escrow, and praise for your new home and community! I will be praying for Victor’s visit, especially that he and his dad can connect with each other. Praying he will soon have a job that will support him and be able to pay down his debt – but most importantly, praying for his relationship with the Lord!
So thankful for the cleansing power of the blood of Christ! I am reminded of the song “Nothing but the Blood Of Jesus.” We can’t do anything to make ourselves pure enough before God only Jesus can. No hiding, just openly receiving His grace!
ALEIDA – praying for Victor and your family.
I teach preschool and am washing my hands constantly! I will not think of washing my hands the same way again! He sprinkles me with clean water…
Blessings on your day, sweet She’s. Remember who you are and whose you are and that prayers are offered on your behalf.
Aleida, I keep you and your son in my thoughts and prayers often. May God continue to fortify your heart that you can stay full of hope and strength. The battle has already been won for Victor, I pray that he would come to see that in his life.
When I read “Blessed are the pure in heart” I almost skipped right over it because obviously that isn’t meant for me! Why even bother finishing the blessing when there’s no way I can measure up to the standard. But! None of us can measure, none of us are pure in heart. That’s why God has to remove our “heart of stone” and give us a clean heart. I loved the passage from Ezekiel because it was full of action words, and this tI’ve the action is God’s. He will gather us, sprinkle us with clean water, give us a dwelling place. Maybe the action on my part is to just accept this new heart and use it as Jesus would.
Ladies, I’ve started my two weeks of grades, report cards, and parent teacher conferences. Please pray for stamina and the right words to say to parents.
ALEIDA – prayers for Victor’s visit, amidst all the other things you have going on
Yes, TINA, Psalm 51! Vs 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
And KELLY (NEO) – same here :(
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
If I could always obey this then there wouldn’t be any room for anything else.
DONNA WOLCOTT Praying for Israel and for your friends’ safety and return home
ALEIDA – praying for Victor’s visit, renewal of relationships and the right job for his financial needs
MERCY – good to see you!
Great question, Tina. For me to have a pure heart is only possible through Jesus. I catch myself frequently framing words and actions in a light that makes me look good in other people’s eyes. It is embarrassing how easily I can turn to this type of manipulation in a situation.
DONNA WOLCOTT – praying your friend and her daughter stay safe and are able to get back home quickly.
ALEIDA – celebrating that all is going well with the move/sale. Will be praying Victor’s visit is peaceful.
Has my heart ever been pure?
I try Lord God, I try. But Lord, you know, even my best intentions do not a pure heart make!
Psalm 51, has long since, been one of my favourites..
Blot out..
Cleanse.
Save.
Create.
Renew.
These are words I pray into a lot, these are words I find myself crying out. I am unworthy…
BUT GOD..
Oh, BUT GOD.
He saw me in my mother’s womb, He saw me as I came out screaming. He saw me when I started school.. Through all of life’s ups and downs, He has seen me, known me and though, my heart is nowhere near pure, it is held\nestled in His, even when I have tried to hide, He loves me still, unconditionally.
By His grace, may I\we stop hiding from Him in shame, and instead turn to face the One who has already blessed us with the purity of Christ and washed us clean.
Oh Lord God, in your mercy hear our prayer. In Jesus name..
AMEN.
Happy Tuesday, dear SRT sisters, Be blessed, wrapped in love and hugs and prayers.❤
Continued prayers ALEIDA, for all to fall into place re your new home, but most especially for Victor, his visit home, and His relationship with his dad when he is home. PRAYING God wraps His loving arms around your whole family in that time, and that there is much healing of heart and monitor all.. Hugs and love.❤
Hello my dear sisters, I haven’t posted for awhile. I’m really enjoying this study and feel so blessed to be sharing my thoughts and prayers with you! I’m praying for all of you as well❤️
We are in escrow on our house and bought a smaller one earlier this month. So we’ve been very busy. This whole process has been anointed by the Holy Spirit as we have seen how He has open some difficult doors for us and has gifted us with this smaller home in a beautiful neighborhood very close to the school where I teach. My husband and I are so thankful and happy to start making new memories as empty nesters.
However, nothing could bring us more joy and happiness in seeing our son Victor thriving and that is not happening…..yet
We’re flying Victor up from CA next week (per his request) so he can sell some items (mostly car parts) that he has in his storage unit up here in OR. I haven’t seen him since Aug and my husband and daughter haven’t seen him since he left to CA in May. He’s still in his IOP treatment and living in a sober living house. However because everything is SO expensive in CA and he left owing some debt up here, his financial situation is dire. Please pray for a good steady job for him that would include good medical benefits. We’ve been paying for his cobra benefits so he could continue with his private insurance since April. Also pls pray that this visit is peaceful (especially between Victor and his dad) and that it would be a very sweet time of family fellowship. He’ll be here from 10/16-10/20.
Thank you!!❤️❤️
Thank you Lord for blessing me with the purity of Christ and washing me clean. Thank you for giving me a new heart— a clean one, white as snow. Thank you for restoring me, for giving me a new chance at life. I don’t want to disappoint You. I don’t want to squander the many blessings You have bestowed upon my life. May I stay strong and courageous. May I be a shining light to others!
It was so good to read this passage tonight. God wants us to be cleansed of the world and be with him as He intended.
That image of cleaning has always resonated with me. I love it. Cleaning is an act of care. Cleaning assures me that God is taking care of me. I am his child.
Hoooooey have I had the wrong intentions with scrubbing my heart oh-so clean – so I can be “on” for everyone else, making room in my heart for their junk and just tossing my own to the side. Scrub my heart clean God so I can be NEARER TO YOU! Having all the answers is not the reward for a clean heart — YOU ARE. Create in your daughters clean hearts, Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within us!
We found out we were having twins, my husband and I. We wanted just one more, but we got two. After losing a little boy when I was 17 weeks pregnant 4 years ago, we were sure these two babies were boys and they were the redeeming work of God’s hands. We. Were. Thrilled. Certain everything would go right and well. We went in for a routine appointment on Monday, I was 12 weeks and 5 days. The first thing we saw, they were boys. The next, there were no heartbeats. My whole world came shattering around me in that moment. I went in for a D&C the next morning. Physically the recovery has been excruciating. I lost more blood than I was supposed to and what they did to stop it is working, but it causes more cramping.But honestly, the physical pain that’s distracting me from the heart kind of pain is strangely welcomed. I told my husband tonight that I was starting to feel really sad and I didn’t want to face it. I would rather ignore the pain, tell myself it isn’t there because I know it will be more than I can bear. I know I need to let myself feel that sadness. I’m just so terrified to feel it. These words were gentle, loving reminders to let myself feel. Prayers for me sisters, as I enter into this next phase of grief.
You are in my prayers
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family.
Praying for you
I am so sorry for your loss. Praying for you sweet friend.
I’ll be praying for you. I had a miscarriage two months ago today and I’m still trying to deal with the pain. I wish I could tell you something profoundly spiritual, but all I can really say is to climb into your Abba Father’s arms and cry. He feels your pain, loves you and wants to be with you in this heartbreaking time.
Praying for you.
I am so very sorry. Prayers for comfort & healing- physically & emotionally. Praying you feel God’s presence with you.
Praying for you.
Praying for you
Covering you in prayers. Always remember Psalm 91:2
Matthew 28:20
And romans 8:18
Maybe these verses will help!
What I’d been using to hide and treat my condition was actually the root of my problem. My attempts to outwardly correct my inward shame had only exposed it more.
This is so wise and insightful. Praise be to God for Jesus who cleanses my heart and gives me grace to see Him more clearly!
I’ve been loving this study. I feel like every day hits me exactly where I need it. Today is no different. Especially this:
“While we are busy trying to correct our outward behavior and conceal our inward brokenness, we miss the work God is already doing”
I so often feel like I’m trying to fix my behavior, and continually failing, so I can’t possibly be good enough for God..this can’t possibly be what he meant for my life. But He’s there. He’s actively working in my life. I’m just missing it because I’m too focused on the wrong things. I’m not focused on Him..I’m just focused on my own shame for my failure to be what I think He wants of me.
May I recognize God for what He’s already doing in my life, and turn to Him when I feel the urge to be hard on myself for the things I have, or haven’t, done.
AMEN! Every single day has been exactly what I needed to hear. It’s been one of my favorite studies so far. So utterly refreshing.
Thank u Father for these words of thruth. Learn me your humility … To show this world a true living heart instead of a heart that s all puffed up. Show how me to be braver in humility
Because we re all struggling in a world full of picture perfect me ‘s.
Amen.
My heart is ugly and dirty. I have been in such despair over the state of it. But then I open up my heart to the Saviour and confess my not-okayness to Him. Oh thanks be to God that He makes my heart pure AND draws so near that I might see and know Him. So so thankful x
Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” We can not create a pure heart. Only God can. He simply wants us to ask.
Thank you for this scripture, Bonnie.
Thank you for sharing. The lord sees my heart and I do want to ask him to make it pure. I understand now that I won’t be the one to purify it it’s the almighty God who will; I just need to ask Him.
Lord, in a world that beckons us to share our awesomeness with one another, would we be women who intentionally share YOUR awesomeness. Father, would I be this woman.
Amen!!! ❤️
Amen!
I’ve always struggled with the balance of turning to and depending on God–and personal responsibility. Faith requires action. God doesn’t do everything for us. But where do I draw the line? At what point do I stop doing and let God take over?
I don’t have all the answers, but this quote has helped me enormously with the question you are asking: “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.” So my prayers have changed to, “Lord, I’m doing this not to earn your love–I know I already have it. I’m making the effort because you love me.” And a really helpful book on this subject is “Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne.
❤️
My husband always says it this way: We can’t do it. None of us. The law made it very obvious that we need Someone to do it for us. And Jesus did. He accomplished everything we are to accomplish perfectly. Yet we still can’t live as we are supposed to. But the Christ life, the life we desire to live after encountering the One who accomplished it all, is about learning daily to die to self in order for Christ to live through us. We can’t. He does it in us and through us. So the right things we do aren’t of ourselves. We don’t get the credit. He does! We simply stop trying and let Him live in us.
Now, this I understand to a degree, but I often have a hard time living it out practically. It doesn’t always make sense. It’s rarely easy not to put forth effort of my own. I know it takes constant prayerfulness.
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart– put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” –Msg Bible. Heart surgery please, remove my heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh today!
Very timely this morning. I just came from my first mission trip where the Lord used me to plant seeds of the gospel in a very dark place. During this time I saw some things about myself that I didn’t know. The most amazing thing was some of the changes in me that had not been apparent before this trip. Through the fire of trials and tribulations, He had changed my heart and I didn’t even know it until I was put into action by Him to do His work. I could have never done this on my own. I am so in awe of my God!!
I want to see Him. I want to see Him so badly that I’ve shamed my sinful heart into hiding. But Praise the Lord, He is not hiding from us, and nothing is hidden from Him. God sees us and knows us long before we could ever think to seek Him. He saw us first.
This.. <3
I. LOVE. THIS. Two words articulated my heart more than any… “feel less”. When I try more, I FEEL LESS. It’s often a bit scary to stop and take an honest look inward. All that FEELING (dread, fear, anxiety, shame) can be overwhelming and all I want to do is turn away. Ignore it. But when I face it and I’m willing to SEE what’s there, it drives me straight to my merciful Creator AND it allows His gifts to shine forth from within ME! His beloved daughter whom He knows from inception! And THEN HE owns all that emotion. He is amazing. How do I ever stray? Yet still, I do. Thank you God for your mercy and grace.
Thank you for this, Kaitlin! This most definitely causes me to make an inward assessment of my heart motives. I never want to portray myself as something I am not (especially on social media, where so many do not know me personally or well), yet I struggle with the conviction to use social media as a platform to share Truth, which can come across as though I am more than I am. I’m conflicted! I hope and pray that my well-intentioned actions are from a heart of “putting feet to my faith,” living out my professed faith, but sometimes I am pointing at me. Lord, show me the difference!
Christina, I had never thought of it this way because I share a lot of what I read here at SRT. I never want to be perceived as being better than or that I don’t struggle within and without but the words are so rich and so full of truth for me I want others to see it as well. I know God sees my heart but perhaps a little less sharing and more doing and being transparent are in order for me.
I so understand that! I share a lot of SRT, as well. I don’t necessarily think it’s bad. I certainly won’t allow others’ possible perceptions keep me from sharing, but I do want to be more aware of my motives (am I looking for “likes,” or have I been led to share? Etc. Have a blessed day! :)
Timely reading after a conversation I had yesterday. I struggle with this strong sense of “not enough” “do more” “I fail.” The hamster wheel of shame, failure and striving is exhausting. I want to read all of this again later today because I need it to stick.
I got nothing. Before a holy God, I got nothing. Whether it’s an open gift of accomplishments or a secret offering I hide behind my back, I got nothing. He is holy. I’m a hot mess. He knows me. I can conceal nothing. BUT GOD. He loved me while I was still yet a sinner. When I set down the accomplishments and reveal what I’m hiding, His arms are open wide. Forever. Because of Jesus, I can bring my nothing and receive everything. The pretending can end. It’s just the real me before Him. And it’s ok. Thankful for that today.
“Because of Jesus, I can bring my nothing and receive everything.” I love that!
Amen. So thankful for not having to pretend.
My work at my righteousness is fruitless. It is always and only and ever will be Christ’s work of grace and mercy in me that makes me pure. All my works of righteousness are like filthy rags. His ONE and FINAL act of righteousness alone purifies me. When He declared from the cross “It is finished” that is what he meant and I can rest in His work and not tire on my own work trying to attain something He has freely given. Praising God for His mercy and grace to me in spite of me!
Amen!
More than any other Beatitude, this is the one I often feel that I have to try to achieve by myself, so I love the reminder in Ezekiel of all that God does for us: gathers us up to bring us home, washes and cleanses us, gives us a new heart, fills us with his Spirit and identifies us as his people. It is so reassuring that purity of heart is not down to our actions and efforts, but down to what God has done for us.
I am with you, though I didn’t recognize it until I read your words. More than any other, this beatitude elicits performance in me. “Let me show you my heart by my actions.” So thankful that my pure heart is not dependent on me!
Me too Lesley! As soon as I saw which one we were reading I felt like what’s the point? I can never be pure in heart. Praise God he has done it for me! I need to only listen and follow him!
Thanks be to God, that He always sees me, even when I hide from him. Thanks be to God that He calls me to see Him too, and gives me Christ’s righteousness so I can see Him. And one day I will know as I am known.
Amen!