The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. (1 Timothy 1:5-6, NLT) Chapter one of Timothy does not waste any time before getting into…
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:12-14 from the NLT of the Holy Bible) I’ve had…
“But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve” (Jeremiah 17:10 in the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible)
This verse gives new meaning to the phrase, “You can read me like a book.” Our hearts and minds are like an open book to our Heavenly Father. Our every thought and actions are known to Him. This realization should make us want to cry out, “Search me O, Lord and make me clean!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I long for Your approval upon my life. Help me to conduct myself in a manner that is pleasing to You and let everything I say, think and do bring glory to You! Amen.
Devotion by Julie Long
“But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve” (Jeremiah 17:10 in the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible).
This verse gives new meaning to the phrase, “You can read me like a book.” Our hearts and minds are like an open book to our Heavenly Father. Our every thought and actions are known to Him. This realization should make us want to cry out, “Search me O, Lord and make me clean!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I long for Your approval upon my life. Help me to conduct myself in a manner that is pleasing to You and let everything I say, think and do bring glory to You! Amen.
Devotion by Julie Long
Great effort is made to educate the public about how to maintain a healthy heart. Equal attention is given to knowing the signs of heart disease. Local hospitals offer “Free Heart Assessments”. Many people take advantage of these offers. They have a Heart Evaluation. They make lifestyle changes. Their lives are saved.
Perhaps we should declare a spiritual heart check initiative. The public would be educated on how to maintain a healthy spiritual heart! Equal attention would be given to knowing the signs of spiritual heart disease. The local churches, empowered by the Holy Spirit, would offer a “Free Spiritual Heart Check”. Many people would come. They would have a Heart Evaluation by the Holy Spirit. They would make lifestyle changes. Their spiritual lives would be saved.
READ: Psalm 119:9, from the Holy Bible, New Century Version “How can a young person live a pure life? By obeying your (God’s) word.”
Prayer: God, I want to have a spiritually healthy heart. Examine the inner me. Remove any disease causing attitudes in my spirit. Empower me to change my ways.
Devotion by Debbie Simler-Goff
“When I find myself racing around, trying to fill a day with mindless tasks or petty entertainment, this is usually the time that God whispers to my heart to draw away with Him and to silence my heart as He wishes to speak.” -K. Walden
“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore” (Ezekiel 37:26 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible). Throughout Scripture people desired to house God’s presence inside walls made with hands. But, the Bible tells us that God’s presence is not restricted to wood, cement and brick, He is with us always. Wherever the Spirit of God is, there is a sanctuary for the sick, the hurting and the downtrodden.
Prayer: Mighty God, You are a sanctuary for us in the storms as well as the celebrations of life. The permanent church building is a wonderful place of rest and worship, but today I pray that You will create in my heart a sanctuary for Your use. Amen.
Devotion by Julie Long
“When I am praying the most eloquently, I am getting the least accomplished in my prayer life. But when I stop getting eloquent and give God less theology and shut up and just gaze upward and wait for God to speak to my heart He speaks with such power that I have to grab a pencil and a notebook and take notes on what God is saying to me.”