Good Morning!
I have just experienced God making himself known through scripture. It was a journey over several days, but it ended with a big smile on my face. Actually, it is comical how it all unfolded. I’m not sure I can convey it in writing. It would be long, and I don’t think I can possibly express the sense of God’s personal touch in it. Even so, I’ll try.
It started out with a sin I’ve been flirting with. We all have something that catches us from time to time. Well, it was my time. I tried to ignore my conscience. I tried to justify my behavior. I even tried confessing my sin, although that doesn’t work when you have no intention of repenting. Finally, these two verses slammed me, one in the evening, the next the very next morning.
Hosea 5:15 I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.
Isaiah 29:13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near to their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
Ouch. I was close with my mouth but far with my heart. The Holy Spirit got my attention. That started to change things around a great deal. I was on my way back to the Lord. Then yesterday I was in my bible plan and ran into this verse along with Charles Stanley’s commentary:
2 Chronicles 17:6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high paces and the Asherim out of Judah.
“God is not after grudging obedience, but joyful submission. The only way we can delight in the Lord’s commands is to first delight in Him, just as Jehoshaphat did.”
Then this verse hit right after that!
Psalm 19:13 Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
I had to look up “presumptuous” to make sure I understood it correctly.
Presumptuous – adjective. (of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate. Synonyms: brazen, overconfident, arrogant, bold, audacious, forward, familiar, impertinent, insolent, impudent, cocky.
Hmmm. Anyone have an unresolved sin issue? I think I need this prayer – Psalm 19:13. It so happens that I studied all this then read Psalm 20 right after that. Then I understood that God was taking me through a process, the outcome of which was very good. It warmed my heart greatly and made me smile. Beam. That’s the better word.
Psalm 20:4 May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.
Yes, the whole of Psalm 20 seemed as if it were written for me, just as much as all the other verses. In the end, obedience to God’s will is always good and always much more fulfilling than I ever can imagine.
Father, thank you for taking me through all this. Thank you for pinpointing your word right to my core. And, thank you for your sense of humor. Amen.
Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers