Today is the final installment of the clean heart portion of "The Heart of the Matter." I pray that you found something to be applicable to you life.(Here are the links to 1 2 3 4)
Wrapping up here is:
10. Testimony. In the Psalm after the renewing of his spirit he said he will teach transgressors God's ways. I think this is a challenge for many Christians because often times we like to keep our sins a secret or site them as personal. However when you open up to others and share your struggles and triumph through Christ you can change lives. All to often the world view Christians as this group of people that are plastic because we don't allow them to see our flaws. It is sad because through our weaknesses and shortcomings Christ strength shines brightest. We don't share these things to boast that we live like the world and get away with it but we share to show that anyone can come to Christ" as is" and be made righteous through Him.
11. Praise. Open my my lips and my mouth will show forth Your praise. I've come to learn that praising God does more for me than I thought. Through praise guilt and strongholds can be shattered. I also know that singing songs of praise and worship, filled with the scriptures is another way of keeping His words in our mouth and our hearts. How often do you bless the Lord while committing a sin? I hope not ever, but the point being, sustaining praise on our lips provides the atmosphere for holiness to manifest in our lives.
12. True Sacrifice. My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. God is so loving. He doesn't delight in what we can give financially. He doesn't delight in material sacrifices. He delights in our intimacy. He will not despise our brokenness. The very thing we try to hide and ignore is the very thing He will accept. We have to understand that we cannot buy God, what is there he doesn't have? We cannot win him over with the Ultimate To Do List of Good Deeds. The only thing we can really give Him is ourselves, our heart, our spirit. Our sinful, broken self is the only sacrifice we can bring before him. And then from our gratitude we can give of our materials.
Well, enjoy all God has for you this weekend. I love you. Be blessed and be a blessing.
Wrapping up here is:
10. Testimony. In the Psalm after the renewing of his spirit he said he will teach transgressors God's ways. I think this is a challenge for many Christians because often times we like to keep our sins a secret or site them as personal. However when you open up to others and share your struggles and triumph through Christ you can change lives. All to often the world view Christians as this group of people that are plastic because we don't allow them to see our flaws. It is sad because through our weaknesses and shortcomings Christ strength shines brightest. We don't share these things to boast that we live like the world and get away with it but we share to show that anyone can come to Christ" as is" and be made righteous through Him.
11. Praise. Open my my lips and my mouth will show forth Your praise. I've come to learn that praising God does more for me than I thought. Through praise guilt and strongholds can be shattered. I also know that singing songs of praise and worship, filled with the scriptures is another way of keeping His words in our mouth and our hearts. How often do you bless the Lord while committing a sin? I hope not ever, but the point being, sustaining praise on our lips provides the atmosphere for holiness to manifest in our lives.
12. True Sacrifice. My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. God is so loving. He doesn't delight in what we can give financially. He doesn't delight in material sacrifices. He delights in our intimacy. He will not despise our brokenness. The very thing we try to hide and ignore is the very thing He will accept. We have to understand that we cannot buy God, what is there he doesn't have? We cannot win him over with the Ultimate To Do List of Good Deeds. The only thing we can really give Him is ourselves, our heart, our spirit. Our sinful, broken self is the only sacrifice we can bring before him. And then from our gratitude we can give of our materials.
Well, enjoy all God has for you this weekend. I love you. Be blessed and be a blessing.
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