Religious and Wicked at the Same Time

“‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching!declares the Lord. Jeremiah 7:9-11

Self-deception. Using religion as a cover for wickedness. Living a lie. The fearful thing is that my heart is capable of this. I can make excuses for my behavior and sooth my conscience with the fact that I have devotions every day. That I memorize Scripture. That I am faithful in my church attendance. 

Dear Father, deliver me from self-deception. When I am wrong, when I sin, smite my conscience and let me submit to your rebuke. Help me to walk before you in truth.

Great Bitterness, an Asset

Behold, it was for my welfare
    that I had great bitterness;

                       Isaiah 38:17

God does not intend to harm us by the things He sends are way; not by the opposition and sin of others, not by the painful results incurred by our own sin or stupidity, not by the distress of living in a degraded culture, not by natural causes, not even the frailty of my body. All things, including that which gives us great bitterness, work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose, to conform us to the image of His Son. When people see us, God wants them to see Jesus. 

To be like Jesus
To be like Jesus
All I ask- to be like Him
All through life's journey
From earth to glory
All I ask- to be like Him.

Dear Father, Help me not resent the hard things you bring into my life. Help me to be your Word, that they are for my good.  Help me to become more like Jesus every day.

Another Time, Another Place

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
    a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
    the best of meats and the finest of wines.

On this mountain he will destroy
    the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;

    he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
    from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
    from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.

 In that day they will say,

“Surely this is our God;
    we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him;
    let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

We, as Christians, are pilgrims. We live for another time, another place. We believe eternal pleasures await us. And while we wait, we trust in the Holy One of Israel alone, for He only is salvation. He only can supply all our needs.

Give Us Eyes to See

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

  The whole earth is filled with His glory.

                                                Isaiah 6:3

Dear Father, There is no one like you. As I go through my day, help my eyes to see your glory that fills the whole earth. Help my heart to be filled with thankfulness for all your works.