In one of my seminary classes, we were to read Athanasius’s On the Incarnation, as well as—according to the syllabus—the book’s preface written by C.S. Lewis. Paying close attention to the syllabus (though not that close), I read both the preface and the introduction.
A few weeks later, during his lecture, the professor pointed out that we technically didn’t have to read the book’s introduction, but he said if we’d been smart, we would have. He explained this had been his intention—even if the syllabus hadn’t spelled it out explicitly.
Was he assuming we were mind readers? Not really. He just had expectations.
At some point, we all give instructions—to colleagues, to children, to friends, to husbands—that may not be perfect or exact, but we hope the recipient will pick up on our intent, on the spirit of what we’re asking them to do. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.
Paul is giving a similar instruction here to the Jewish Christians in Rome. He is echoing Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, asking Jesus’s followers to read deeper into the law. Paul tells them it’s not about following the letter of the law—it’s about following the heart of the One who wrote it. Paul’s laundry list of law-breaking activities in verses 21–23, reads similarly to what Jesus said in Matthew 5.
“You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, ‘Do not murder; and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
—Matthew 5:21–22
Jesus preached these words to some who knew the law backward and forward, but He was holding up a magnifying glass to their hearts. They weren’t out murdering people—they were law-following Jews, after all—but what was going on in their hearts? Were they angry with their brother? Jesus said that they, too, are deserving of judgement. The spirit of the law was broken, even if the exact rule was not.
Paul does the same for his readers. He questions their obedience to the law, but then he reminds them it’s the posture of their hearts that matters most. These proud Jewish Christians came from a long heritage of following the law. They too easily forgot that Jesus came to fulfill the law for them.
It’s not hard to see myself in the Jewish Christians of Rome, slipping back into trying to follow the rules rather than the One who wrote them. It’s easy to think my righteousness comes from acting the right way, rather than from “the Way” Himself (John 14:6). But as the psalmist tells us, “Wouldn’t God have found this out, since he knows the secrets of the heart?” (Psalm 44:21).
If I’m honest, what’s going on inside my heart is usually much uglier than how I act on the outside. Thankfully, Jesus came to wash me clean from the inside out. This is the beauty of the cross and the gift of the Holy Spirit: to compel me to seek God’s heart first and obey His law by the help of His Spirit.
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74 thoughts on "True Obedience"
A good reminder to know the why and not just the what. Thank you Jesus for allowing us to deeply understand your love!
I definitely needed to hear this today!
I loved this reminder that it’s not our rules or the appearance of togetherness that makes is right or righteous but it’s a heart surrendered and open to God
YES! i really needed this reminder too.
This one hit, I’ve been praying for the salvation of a loved one. And I realize my heart is unclean towards them as I’ve been filled with hate towards them over their life choices and the things that a life removed from God has caused them to do. My desire has not been from love, but because I’m hoping they’d stop hurting me if they find Jesus. I need God’s love in my heart for them.
oh wow, i love that god revealed this to you! he is so good!
Me crying over :) day 4 and God is convicting.
The inside is ugly! But the redeeming work of Christ the fulfillment of the law makes me righteous
I’m very behind but I’m doing the study on my time and I really enjoyed day 4.
Thank you Lord for reminding me that I am broken and messy without you. I need your grace everyday. Help me see others the way you see them.
Head vs heart. A constant battle, and prayer that God will work through me despite myself
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My church has a group on helping families love LGBTQ family members. I hope there’s more churches that help Christians to love. I’ve recently had a friend get engaged. And I chose not to join a D&D program at a library because I had talked to her previously about how I feel. I hope I didn’t close a door. Her fiance sees through my actions. I needed space because I can’t celebrate their engagement. It’s hard to love but also know when and when not to “join in.” “Do not be conformed to this world”
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Ahh this is good. I’m guilty of what’s been in my head lately .. taking a moment to reflect and confess. What a beautiful read on Gods gracious love and reminder of how we need HIm.
Please pray as I continue to slowly, gently work with the Holy Spirit to woo my mom to Him. She has seen so many “religious” “Christians” who didn’t keep the law, and because of this she says she wants NOTHING to do with “any of it.” My heart breaks for her and I know and see how lost she is. She has missed the point of GRACE and the fact that we all mess up. She also doesn’t see that satan is using these people to keep her from a saving faith. Please join me in praying for her to have a soul changing experience with God?!?
Holy Spirit, fill me up daily and keep my heart a heart of flesh, a heart that desires and longs for God, a heart that obeys and submits to God, a heart that is humble before God.
@lisa z. Thank you for your words! I am the mother of a child who identifies as homosexual. This has been an interesting turn in the life I imagined and prayed for for her and I haven’t always gotten it right. My mother is catholic. Her heart is in the right place but she does not see how she is making the church and Jesus ugly to my daughter and it breaks my heart. We’ve had so many discussions (my mother and I) on moving like Jesus and what the “Bible says” you are so right and I will be sharing your perspective with her that a Jesus doesn’t walk around talking to the oppressed about their sins without offering them the incredible l, all powerful, consuming love of the Father.
So true. As I have prayed over this the Lord showed me how much God loves the LGBTQA people in my life. I will always pray for God’s best in their life. Transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit in the Devine will of God.
Today’s reading and meditation challenge us to look in our hearts as we seek to minister. Do we minister out of love, recognizing that Jesus does not see social status, race, or sexuality- Jesus sees a person, created and loved by the Holy Trinity.
Yes, it came be a hard issue to deal with as a Christian. But as a Christian I always try to remind myself it’s not up to us to judge others and we are told the most important value to hold is to love one another as Jesus loves them. We need to support and help each other whether we agree with their choices or not. I do not believe who one chooses to love is harming anyone else , therefore it is my job as a follower of Jesus to love them and help them when it’s needed. It is not my job to judge them. Thank goodness for Christian (or any) organizations that help those kids in need!
I have recently been so convicted about how ugly my heart can be. I was on a missions trip lately and one night during our “God moment” shout outs, I found myself either standing in judgement, comparing myself to them, or being jealous of those who had been highlighted, and constantly waiting for others to mention me. Father forgive me! And ladies it is helpful to hear I am not alone.
@lisa z – I too struggle with what seems to be the “highlighting” of homosexuality as a sin. I don’t have the answers but there is a Christian organization that supports LGBTQ youth. They have the highest rate of suicide/depression/anxiety among others in their age group. Many who come from a Christian home are kicked out when they “come out of the closet”. The organization helps these kids and also educates Christians on this issue. It’s called PURE POSTURE. I see you heart and your hurting for this group and I’m with you.
Holy Spirit I need you. May my private life be honorable to you in every moment.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful insight, Mercy! Powerful to be reminded of God’s desire for a change of heart rather than a change in behavior, even in the Old Testament. Praying that as I raise my little ones, God will keep this truth ever before me. How quick I am to unintentionally place the burdens of legalism and “appearance’s sake” upon my children! Forgive me, Jesus. Please transform me so that I can lead them to you rather than to
Amen!
As Mercy talked about pain that we see or go through ourselves I thought about the song Scars. I’ve been through many things I wouldn’t have chosen, but I wouldn’t have ever have gone to a different type of church where I heard the Gospel.
Here are the lyrics:
Waking up to a new sunrise
Looking back from the other side
I can see now with open eyes
Darkest water and deepest pain
I wouldn’t trade it for anything
‘Cause my brokenness brought me to you
And these wounds are a story you’ll use
So I’m thankful for the scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart
And I know they’ll always tell of who you are
So forever I am thankful for the scars
Now I’m standing in confidence
With the strength of your faithfulness
And I’m not who I was before
No, I don’t have to fear anymore
So I’m thankful for the scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart
And I know they’ll always tell of who you are
So forever I am thankful for the scars
I can see, I can see
How you delivered me
In your hands, in your feet
I found my victory
I’m thankful for your scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart
And with my life, I’ll tell of who you are
So forever I am thankful
I’m thankful for the scars
‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know your heart
And I know they’ll always tell of who you are
So forever I am thankful for the scars
So forever I am thankful for the scars
MELANIE RANIER, This was so heart convicting!
Thank you!
In our Bible reading today what stood out to me was in the Deutronomy passage: these laws are for our good! Sometimes people feel like laws are written to restrict us and to keep us in line. The laws God has for us is to protect us from evil and to give us freedom from sin! Following Gods law doesn’t make us perfect, but it can make our burden light. As humans it’s hard not to push back against rules and try to stretch the boundaries. Free will allows us to do such, but how much better and purer could our hearts be if we just listened to The Lord and followed His ways! I appreciated what @Mercy said about Circumcision. It’s painful, but it is for our good. It shapes and molds us into the people God wants us to be, Lord help me to live a life with open arms, unclenched fists, so you can shape and mold me into the child of God you want me to be!
We have primary physical custody of the 17 year old. Her son’s case was continued because the lawyer didn’t have time to investigate. We spoke with him and he doesn’t feel it will be a problem for us to gain custody. The next hearing is a month away.
@TERESA DONLEY praying for MRI today. As somebody who works in the radiology field I know how hard it can be for people. Praying for good results as well. Also thank you for the prayers. @MICHELLE PATIRE thank you for the prayers as well. Happy Thursday ladies!
Lord I pray you will forgive me if a non-believer blaspheme your name because of something I had done!
Thank you for the good discussion today, excellent!
Prayers for you all and current needs! @Sharon–Hoping your sisters has somewhere to go tomorrow??
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Circumcision of the heart and circumcision the spirit is what the Lord wants for His children (Romans 3:29). Circumcision- the procedure done by a sharp knife. As women, we don’t understand the pain of this. But I imagine it hurts from the description in the Bible. By that principle, if it doesn’t hurt, it’s not a circumcision yet… both for the heart and the spirit. Has our spirit groaned out of pain? Has our heart ached? It is circumcision, the cut open by the knife, the sword that is sharper than the double edged sword. This answers lots of possible questions on whys for the righteous suffering of the narrow road journey. I have seen righteous people suffer, and I usually keep the question why in the back of my mind. What have they done to deserve this? It is not by the devil, but because of God ordained pain for the circumcision of heart and spirit. I thank God for the shaping and molding of us using pain- therefore we need to give thanks in good & painful times.
May His grace help us to look ahead to the glory and the living hope in Jesus Christ, may He provide boldness for the change of heart, at the cost of losing possibly family/friend. If we delay our pains, we delay our growth. If we run from afflictions and avoid picking up the cross at all cost, we deny our growth. And God is our Healer. He will heal all wounds. “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth” (Hosea 6:1-3).
@KIMBERLY VOHS: amen to what you posted, hypocrisy (must look religious to hide sin), External performance does not equal heart transformation. These are the very poisonous people walking around in churches YET shut up the Kingdom of God for others!! (Matthew 23:13 KJV).
Lifting up our sisters in prayers. May God’s goodness transform your hearts, minds, spirits and situations, for His Glory. Even when we don’t see, He is working. Be blessed dear sisters.
Dear Jesus, make in me a clean heart!
@Lisa Z, I appreciate your response and also your heart for others. I, too, have close people in my life who claim to be homosexual (friends and even close family members). I’m constantly praying for wisdom to know how to show them the true love of Christ without compromising on the truth. I think this sin in particular has been such a big focus because it has been so prevalent in everything these days. It’s all over the place, pride month was just celebrated and people are more comfortable publicly talking about this and I think that’s why it has been so focused on because the church is having to make a more public stand on God’s word than it has had to in the past. I think the main thing with any sin is to really get to the heart of the matter-it’s so easy to try to change someone’s mind about sin but if they haven’t trusted in Jesus to save them and if they don’t have the Holy Spirit inside them to give them victory over sin, they will never truly have freedom from it. I think it’s so important for us, Christians, to present the gospel and share with them that through Christ, they don’t have to live in bondage to any sin but can be free from it. We’re getting to Romans 6, which is one of my favorite passages and it talks about how, in Christ, we have freedom and victory from all sin-we are no longer slaves to it! Christ loved sinners and spent time with them but he always pointed them to salvation in him and called them to live lives free from their sin instead of continuing in that. Sin (whatever the sin may be) leads to destruction and a life away from Christ and the most loving thing we can do for anyone is to warn them of this and give them the good news that with Christ there is a better way of life that doesn’t include their sin.
And as far as any sexual sin, it’s so important to always go back to what God says. He created marriage and sex and we always should look at his model for how to live these out according to his plan. Marriage is a representation of Christ and the covenant he has with his bride (the church). He created marriage in Genesis 2 as an example of this covenant and we are to live that example out through our marriages (though, of course, none of us can do this perfectly). What a beautiful thing! And sadly, the enemy and this world wants to destroy this beauty by leading us down a path that is not according to God’s plan. We as Christians have a wonderful privilege of showing this world and telling the unsaved of the beauty of God’s plan and way. And these first two passages in Romans remind us that we are sinners as well. There is nothing good in us apart from Christ and it is his mercy that has brought us salvation from sin. I appreciate your heart for the homosexual community and I pray that we all as believers have wisdom in knowing how to lovingly point them to God’s love and his design-which is always the best way.
I pray my heart would follow Him and His heart!
TRACI GENDRON- absolutely not. There is no question the best thing for someone is to be surrounded by those independent enough to not rely on others for their sobriety. I fully agree, you’re right. Oddly, I’m not too worried about my niece at the moment (obviously that can change) as she is planning way ahead and is mainly focused on continuously communicating to her OBs and nurses to please not offer anything that’s not OTC (even that she worries about) and making plans for how to do pain management once baby is here (she’s a little worried… unfortunately the poor girl has had to be privy to MY birth stories and while #3 was super respectful of “my space”, the first two were wildly “less than considerate” !!!! lol!!!!!! :) :)
EVERYONE’S PRAYERS clearly have moved her heart because as of yesterday she decided she is no longer driving her guy to work at 5:30 every morning. The reason she drives/picks up is bc he has to pass a couple areas of town where he has active plugs and she’s driven him around to help reduce the chance of him stopping. But- she’s now leaving that up to him and hoping he will have the strength and healing enough to keep sober. Anyway – she’s taking the steps she knows to take and recognizing things have to change so, for now? We are super grateful for that growth in her and we know she will do what is needed if the time comes for it.
I love everyone’s prayers and people’s comments only come from a place of wanting success and joy in her life – the motivation is love and i’m so appreciative. :) :)
Oh Father, I humbly bow before you now, knowing I am not worthy to be in Your presence, but You accept me anyways. I repent of all the times I have tried to “earn” Your grace, which just doesn’t make sense at all. I repent of all the times I’ve judged other people by thinking I’m better then they are because I don’t do the same things they do. Please forgive me for thinking I can “do” enough to earn the salvation You freely gave to me. Please forgive me for thinking I could elevate myself above others because I don’t do that they do. Please give me a heart, like David, that just wants Your heart. I give You my heart and ask that You make my heart like Yours. Help me to turn my eyes upon You, and let the world grow dim in Your presence. Thank you for freely forgiving me, and giving me Your Spirit to help me grow in Your likeness.
Following the heart of the one who wrote it! I love this. We can become so black and white. Worrying about law, rules, details. I want to focus on truly changing my heart. Mine can be uglier on the inside from what I want to show on the outside. Jesus help me change that.
HEIDI – I hope my comment didn’t feel to harsh yesterday. I mean it in the best way. A person in my life 20 years ago was an addict. I had to learn the hard way of what to do and what not to do. Al-anon was the best thing I have ever done. It taught me so much about the addict. We can become sick along side them. I sincerely pray that she can move forward without him. At least for now. The probability of him dragging her down is higher than her lifting him up.
Teresa DONLEY – Prayers that you will get through the MRI with flying colors. Know that it is an open tube. The tech is able to hear you. Ask him/her to talk you through the series of noises. It helps you realize it will be coming to an end. You’ve got this!
Good day she’s!
Living this study and all the support this group gives. Thank you for all the comments and prayers!
Someone mentioned God does not make mistakes. I agree. Treating the LGBTQ as a mistake/abomination is a huge mistake is not Christ like. It may be near impossible to find the face of Jesus in those of the LGBTQ community, but make no mistake, it is there. Perhaps we christians are responsible for, in the words of Paul “The name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you.”
Honestly, there are so many sins, I truly do not understand the focus on this sin.
Please consider…I have a close friend who is a lesbian. She has not had a partner in a very long time, so I guess could be considered non-practicing. But being gay is more that sexual activity. Is she sinning because were she looking for a partner, it would be a woman? Is she without sin because she has not engaged in sexual activity? Would she have been a better Christian to stay in her marriage to a man and just live against her concept of herself? I sat next to this lovely lady at a church service in which the preacher was condemning homosexuality. I was so embarrassed. I could not find the Lord in his words and could feel an anger in me. My Jesus doesn’t walk around talking to the oppressed about their sins without offering them the incredible, all powerful, consuming, love of the Father. It’s what I hope to offer to all, a little Jesus.
Thanks, ladies.
Now I’d best stop preaching and get on my knees. Sounding a bit self-righteous, Lisa!!
Love, love
AIMEE ROGERS- any update on rulings in court yesterday for the 17y and her son?? Praying and trusting that God’s hand is holding everyone…
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My prayer is Lord forgive me if a non-believer blaspheme your name because of my actions. Thr world is not only watching but searching for the Savior may I point toward Him not away.
Lord, forgive me if a non-believer blaspheme your name because of my actions. The world is watching and searching – may I be a true reflection of my Savior.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 KJV
That’s the verse that came to my mind when I went through this reading this morning. Lord, clean my heart.
Have a beautiful Thursday ladies! May you be blessed and know the Lord’s presence.
Amen
Amen!!
KELLY (NEO) – thank you (AND THANK ALL OF YOU PRAYING FOR MY NIECE/HER BABY/HER FIANCE!!!!) for praying. You DID mention that group in the past and I reached out a couple of times but never heard back from anyone… Even if she may struggle to see what’s the best for HER, she seems to be able to see what’s for sure best for the baby-to-come and is taking those steps. Without his income to help, though, we just don’t know living situation will look like. She’s working (for my husband) and he allows the hours to be slightly flexible whenever possible, and most of the work is done from home, but living check-to-check, having a fussy baby and a deadline is an awful place to be, I don’t want that for her… He pays her well, let me be clear, it’s just she is fully dependent on all of it and will be even more so in the future… idk.. rambling. But thank you for the prayers and the info, I really appreciate it!!!
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 139:23-24 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.139.23-24.NIV
Inspired!
I have seen similar stories and am always
I just love the New Living Translation when I am reading Romans! Such clarity in these 2 verses:
28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise* from God, not from people.
Agreeing that it is a lifelong process – that is the way God intended it to be since it involves relationship. I am reminded of the old song, He’s Still Working on me by The Hemphills back in the 80’s:
He’s still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still workin’ on me
He’s still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still workin’ on me
There really ought to be a sign upon my heart
Don’t judge him yet, there’s an unfinished part
But I’ll be better just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master’s loving hands
He’s still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still workin’ on me
In the mirror of His word
Reflections that I see
Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me
But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He’s the potter, I’m the clay
He’s still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still workin’ on me
He’s still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still workin’ on me
Lifting each of your requests to the One Who has the perfect answer!
I watched JD Greers bible study on Romans…a few things he said:
A religious person has a critical spirit (quick to find fault in others), hypocrisy (must look religious so hides sin) and insecurity (always wondering have I done enough which causes a more critical spirit of others)
External performance does not equal heart transformation. God is looking at our heart…we can’t get away with sin just by looking religious. God wants us to do the right things for the right reasons, obedience that grows from a love for God.
I’m praying that God convicts me of wrong motivations, even when I’m doing the “right” things. I’m also praying that I find my rest in Jesus and don’t get bogged down in “being perfect.” I tend to easily slip into beating myself up over everything I’m doing incorrectly…so I pray we all have conviction without condemnation.
TERESA DONLEY- ah! I hate that MRI machine!! I’m with you… logically I can report it is totally safe, you are totally fine, it’s a nice, cozy place to close your eyes and meditate on some Scripture for a bit! However… ;) emotionally, it IS SO weird…. Remind yourself – you really are not “trapped” as people think. You say the word and they immediately shut it off and stop. So if you can give your head a little permission to “Take the lead”, you’ll do great!! Find a passage that is calming to you and start memorizing. You can’t take it in with you, but you can meditate on what you’ve memorized “…and God’s peace will rule in your heart and mind in the power of Jesus!” :) Praying the results are helpful and you and your doctor are able to create a plan of care that will bring healing and restoration :) :)
Dear God, I want to give you all of me – to love you with all my heart, body and soul. Help me, Lord, to take my eyes off of earthly things and put them firmly on you. Amen.
I echo so many comments here. I absolutely want to be changed and need to be changed from the inside out! The song, From the Inside Out by Phillips, Craig, and Dean came to mind.
Here are the lyrics:
A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
I’m caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
Yeah, in my heart and in my soul
I give you control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
Yeah, in my heart and in my soul
I give You control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
ERB, thank you for what you wrote! Absolutely and Amen! He is Holy! May we revere Him and never forget who He is and what He’s done! I read this post on Instagram from a woman that goes by @rankheresy. She wrote:” I absolutely know God is real…He changed my heart and there’s no going back. Even if I wanted to return to the person I was before I was saved, I literally could not! It’s impossible. He never let’s us go!”
I want this!
Like Kelly Neo says, it’s a lifeline long process, but please pray for me. I’ve been learning and studying for a long time, and I am not as changed
as I should be. I want to be His for real! The lyrics in the song say Consume me from the inside out, but how often do I want things my way. God, please help and change me!
In today’s world it is so easy to be come focused on outward appearance and I am guilty of that. Such a good reminder that we need to focus on our hearts. ❤️❤️
Living by the guidance of the Divine Spirit is truly living in our authenticity…which involves the good, the bad, and the indifferent. God is looking for purity of heart and not perfection.
How often do I focus my life on being a “good christian”, trying to read my Bible and go to church on Sunday. Being active in the church and being a good example to others….but I get so focused on doing all the things that I lose sight of the most important thing….chasing after Jesus and focusing on my own relationship with him! Loved this reminder today and conviction on my heart to turn my perspective about what is truly important
@Aimee Rogers- how did it go yesterday? Hoping and believing for a good report
@Heidi- What @Traci G shared in response to your prayer request about your niece was pretty helpful, though it is a hard pill to swallow. I feel for your niece, but I also think it would be wise to protect the baby by giving space for her fiance to sober up. But also, he has to want that for himself… So it is tricky. I pray that the Lord would give guidance and bring knowledge to all parties involved. God have mercy!
@Nicole Burke- I echo the prayers of the other women here, for you to find accountability and safety in a local community, however God should provide that. It is awesome to have this virtual community. It definitely meets a need for me too, as I’ve been in a state of transition since 2020. But the Lord has also made it clear how deeply I needed a physical community where I live. Even if it isn’t permanent/long-term. Thankfully, He has provided that over time. :) If you do have that, great! I pray you feel safe and able to open up to those people even more <3
@Kimberly Z- the Lord bring guidance and wisdom to your father and those who love and care for him. May he continue to find strength daily and see God working in his life to give him purpose and meaning here. If he is still breathing, God has a plan and purpose for him! May he truly see that and see God's great love for him. May he lay his burdens down that are not his to carry… And trust God to hold him when he feels weak. Grace and peace to him, in Jesus's name.
“It’s not about following the letter of the law- it’s about following the heart of the One who wrote it”. This gives me so much clarity and comfort in todays passages. Lord keep me chasing after Your heart and rooted in Your word- Amen!!!
Keep my eyes open, Lord!
Todays devotional was a good reminder for me to check my heart’s intent. Why am I doing what I do, is it for the glory of God, or for the praise of me? Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work, or am I trying to do it for Him? … Father I pray that I will fear you, that I will walk in Your ways – not my own, that I will love you & serve you with all my heart & soul. Amen.
Yesterday & today’s message was very convicting. I need to stop looking at what others are or are not doing, and start looking at what I’m doing or not! May I see others through the eyes of Jesus and extend to them the grace that God extends to me!
@ Heidi – I will be praying for your niece’s situation, what a tough spot to be in. Thank you for the update, I had been praying for her & wondered how she was doing, I remember those trips you made to see her, & the concerns back then.
@all my SRT sisters, praying for you & your requests as I read them. Have a blessed & thankful Thursday!
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN- Amen!!!
Thank you Lord that my holiness doesn’t come from me, because I fail daily. Thank you for loving and choosing me. May you continue to shine a light on the dark places of my soul I prefer to ignore.
When I read todays passage from Matthew, where Jesus calls out the Pharisees for being all about the outward appearance…wow. I imagined how easily those words could be about me. What picture am I presenting to the world that is not a true representation of what is in my heart? How easy it is to slip into the Cristian lifestyle- go to church, sing the songs, know the buzzwords- but not have it penetrate to the core. Sometimes I’m guilty of pulling my faith on like a rain jacket. When I see storms coming, it’s amazing how much better my prayer life gets! But Jesus is looking for a heart that belongs to him, not just a costume that is put on. Change my heart from the inside out, God!
Thank You Father that I’m righteous through Grace, not my own acts. Forgive my sins. Thank You Jesus for Salvation through Your Blood! Amen
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
Deuteronomy 10:16-17 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
Deuteronomy 10:20-21 Fear the Lord your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name. 21 He is the One you praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
**these verses bring to mind Proverbs 9:10 “The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence], And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.” (AMP)
May we learn to reverently fear and respect You God. You are HOLY, and nothing unholy can be where You are!! Exodus 3:5 …”take off your sandals for the place you are standing is holy ground” Let the significance and depth of this sink down deep into our very essence!! Change us Lord. Help us hold fast to You and help us to always remember WHO You are and what You have done!!! Thank You Father. Amen.
Romans 2:29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.
**the inward state of the heart. It’s not the outward, what “man” sees.. it’s the INWARD, what God sees and knows is there!! Our life source should come from Him, and Him alone!! An important reminder!! Thank You God for this!!
May the Lord bless and keep each of us today, may we hold fast to Him, may He cleanse & purify us, and may His Light shine on and out of us!! To Him be the glory, honor and praise, always!!!
Thank you Jesus for your Word.
I think what is so hard is to admit that I cannot control my righteousness before God. To come to terms with the fact that there is nothing I can do to earn His love or His forgiveness. There is no behavior that demands that God responds to me. Yet when I break it down that is what I am doing when I think following the “rules” is what makes me “holy as He is holy.”
Allowing the Holy Spirit to change me from the inside out is a lifetime endeavor.
NICOLE BURKE – praying you find a physical community that can give you the encouragement you need and that you can press into the Lord when your anxiety rises up.
FOSTER MAMA – praying for your goddaughter’s situation
TERESA DONLEY – agreeing with you that the medication will help you get through the scan today and that the doctors will find the source of your balance issues.
HEIDI – continued prayers for your niece. May she have the courage to show her baby’s daddy “tough love” and stop enabling his addiction. I believe I mentioned the support group Embrace Grace to you for your niece. There is a companion group for the guys called Legacy. Maybe a church near them offers both.
Thank you Lord for saving me. Washing me from the inside out.