Dear Ones,
Hope you arise to the day with an open heart to the Lord. Today is Donut Day here and Bible study and later an auto party and sale next door.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Are we easily offended, or do we have a Christlike heart that forgives even before being asked? All of us have been sinned against and each time that it happens we must choose whether we will carry resentment in our hearts or if we will plead the blood of Jesus over them and forgive. The decision is weighty for if we choose not to forgive, we will carry a burden of offense that will weigh us down and will color our attitude, our outlook, our conversations etc. We will find that resentment consumes us by wanting to get even and it gives us a very heavy feeling. It can cause us to get physically and emotionally sick as well.

How different it is when we have an unoffended heart, and it seems like we can skip along with joy and a lightness.  I recently saw some footage of deer in the mountains and watched as they jumped straight up to the next height without any problem. It was so cool and so effortless, and they frolicked with one another. All the while they were climbing higher and higher on the rocks but with strength and agility and joy.

All of us have some tough mountains to climb but we can choose to have the right attitude and outlook. Our part is to ask the Lord to show us what needs to change in us to become more Christlike. We have to give up our offensive attitudes with the desire to retaliate and let the Lord give us a heart like His. As the Lord says in Ezekiel 37:26-27, “I will give you a new heart and a new spirit within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” Let us die to the pride of our stoney heart and let Him give us a new heart of flesh. Then let us leap to the higher ground with joy and never stop and quit

Challenge for today: If you are hanging on to unforgiveness in your heart towards anyone, give it up and ask the Lord to give you a new heart and spirit. Then see how much lighter you feel and go to the heights.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy