Dear Ones,
May all that happens in your day be transformed by love. Al and I have an appointment this morning and this afternoon we are having friends over for pie and prayer!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How committed are we to the Lord? Do we live lives that are transformed by His love or do we continue in our sinful patterns and practices that are just like that of the world? Psalms 24:3-4 says, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.”

When we sin, are we sorry and want to turn from sinful behavior, or do we have a divided heart and want to keep on with the same sinful practices over and over again? One thing that can help us overcome is to spend time in the Word, for it says in Psalm 119, “I treasure your word in my heart, so that I might not sin against you.” The Psalmist goes on to say he will meditate and fix His eyes on God’s ways, delight in His statues and not forget His Word. There is power in the Word and as we meditate on it, we will find ourselves becoming progressively free from those sins that seem to trip us up.

We also find it helpful to focus on the cross. We have a cross in every room of our apartment. When Al and I sit on the sofa together at 5 a.m. to pray, I often lift my eyes to the cross that is by the fireplace and remember the price Jesus paid to set me free and all those for whom we pray.  We find in James 4 that we are to submit ourselves to God, purify our hearts, and resist the Devil. When we draw close to God we will hate sin and not want to offend the Lord.

The life of being transformed more into His image is a gradual process and the Lord is so very patient with us.  May we learn to accept that we live imperfect lives and confess when we sin, knowing we can only go in His strength and not our own.

Challenge for today:  When you sin, don’t wait but immediately confess it and ask the Lord to help you refrain from doing it again.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy