Dear Ones,
Hope you have a great weekend. Today I am going to clean and do food prep and then we are going to a birthday party. My cousin is also stopping by on her way to the lake. We had a very cold and windy walk outside yesterday and hope today is warmer.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How many of us have done something rather sacrificial, but our attitude wasn’t what it should be in the giving of it? We did the right thing, maybe something expected of us, but our heart was not in it. I rather think in the God’s eyes, it cancels out any reward for whatever we did, and the person receiving may also sense it was not a free gift from the heart. In Jer. 17:10, it says, “I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

How many of us have also been shmoozed and received gifts with strings attached? We may have thought the giver was making a sacrifice, but later realized there was an expectation connected with their gift. Our motives are important, and how we give or respond is important, for the Lord is very aware of the intentions of our hearts. In Prov. 16:2, it says, “All the person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. I was recently convicted when I remembered times I have given to the Lord because I felt I needed to, not because I really wanted to. When I think back on times as an introverted pastor’s wife I went to speak to some group, I didn’t respond by thanking the Lord for the opportunity, but more like, “Lord, just get me through this!” I didn’t jump up and down to give children’s sermons either, but rather did it out of obedience at the time, and no one else volunteered to do it.  There is regret when I look back, but I also am thankful the Lord has forgiven me. I want to serve Him out of love for Him and for others.

When we do things out of selflessness, it brings glory to Him. Let us serve from genuine love.
Challenge for today: Dare to pray Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see of there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy