Surprise, surprise and surprise to read this one little sentence and see it set the tone today for my time with God.
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart. – 2 Chronicles 25:2 ESV
I am being called out this morning to apply my whole heart to the word of God and in its application to my life. To be diligent, and an active participant in the gospel. To worship not with my lips but in spirit and in truth. Not just when I feel like it but to establish this as a daily pattern. I cannot disregard any of it without disregarding God Himself.
Then I read this and was challenged when I reflected on what it meant and what needed to change.
For you are all children[b] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 5:5-9 ESV
Am I walking through life with my armour on – especially my breastplate of faith? Am I placing an emphasis on loving – for I know it will motivate me to pray, encourage, help, admonish and it will energize me to reach out to the lost.
I know that I have hope and am encouraged to know that I have received salvation that I do not deserve and I have been given mercy – what a liberating truth! Can I live in the light of Christ’s coming? I can if I pray continually. I have hope that God will accomplish my santification and that will encourage me to obey Him.
Father, I am amazed that Your word has once again challenged me, woke me up, and then I as reflected on it, it changed me. I see what You want to do in my life and how I have resisted for selfish reason. I want to give You my whole heart. I want to take You into the rooms of my heart where I have kept the door closed for some time. Walk with me and set me free, in Jesus name. Amen.
Erwin (evanlaar1922)
Sixty-six books in a year 