Saturday, February 4, 2023

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART



Denise Jenkins~ "When traveling, I often notice neglected old homeplaces. My first thoughts are about their history. Who lived there? Did they entertain guests, have family celebrations, or make memorable moments? 

With a few renovations and fresh paint, I imagine what transformations it would take to restore them to their former beauty. God dwells within us and guides us to make needed adjustments, whether it is something we should change or fix. 

Some days, it might just be a nasty old attitude. David asked God to change, renew, and transform his heart. He wanted God to search him and walk through the deepest places of his soul—to revive, renew, and restore him. David realized he could not change his own heart. God was the only source of such joy and renewal.

During summer, most of us pen our to-do list. We take inventory, pull out the paintbrushes, and check off the repairs, renovations, and restorations we need to complete. Our homes bring us joy when we observe and complete projects that need mending. 

 When the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts, we can conquer sin and not succumb to temptation. We can live a devoted joyful Christian life and not waver in our faith. If you feel broken or abandoned and long for renewal and restoration, ask God to cleanse and change your heart.

Doing so will bring freedom to forgive, to love and serve others, and to love ourselves. When we allow God to search our hearts, He will take what's wrong and make it right. Why not ask God to create a clean heart in you?

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10 NKJV


Let's pray-

   Father, as we contemplate what it would take to renovate an old homestead, may we take thought what it will take You to make us be like Jesus. As Christ's Spirit dwells within us as believers in Jesus, we are guided to make needed adjustments, whether it is something we should change or fix.
   On some days, we might be dealing with a nasty old attitude, which Christ wants to transform us from, by reviving, renewing and restoring us to healthy attitudes that can bring us joy.
   You will take inventory, pull out Your "painbrushes," check off the repairs, renovations and restorations we need to complete changes in our attitudes and habits, to Your satisfaction.
   When the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts, we can conquer sin and not succumb to temptation. We will live a devoted joyful Christian life and not waver in our faith. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

   Reader, if you feel broken or abandoned and long for renewal and restoration, ask God to cleanse and change your heart.
   By doing this, you can have freedom to forgive, to love and serve others and learn to love yourself.  As we allow the Father to search our hearts, He will take what's wrong and make it right. Why not ask Him right now to create a clean heart in you?
 

881-885 one-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted- 
 
881- Ecc. 9:10a "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
882- 2 Cor. 1:11a "Ye also helping together by prayer for us."
883- Ro. 4:7 "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are                    covered."
884- Ps. 31:19a "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that              fear thee.
885- 1 Cor. 1:3 "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord          Jesus Christ."


Quotes for today-

~ Derek Prince- "True faith must not be based on the wisdom of men but on the power of God. In these last days, with the power of wickedness mounting on every hand and every type of assault against the faith of God and Jesus Christ and against His true church, no one is going to make it who doesn't have a personal experience of God's supernatural power in his or her own life."  (p. 49 in his book, The Gifts of the Spirit)

~ Emily Marszalek-  "Jesus encourages us to let our lights shine before others so they can see our good deeds and praise God. Regardless of our position—doctor, secretary, teacher, student, stay-at-home parent, electrician, retiree — God wants us to shine a bright light for Jesus. God places us where we are for a purpose. We must commit our hearts to doing a good job, no matter the task. We can let our love, kindness, grace, and dedication shine as a bright light to those around us."

Words of wisdom-

~ Our yesterdays have brought us to where we are today. How we adjust to our lives now, can determine what our character may be.
   Joseph, Mary's husband to be, covered her supposed crime, and obeyed God's angel's message to him to take her as his wife. He proved that he had a great character!

   Are we willing to cover the shame of others, not mentioning them to others? Will we pause long enough to get God's opinion on the subject?


Upcoming posts:

11th- FAITH LIKE THE BIRDS 
   Savannah Goss

18th- A KISS FROM HEAVEN
   Cindy Nybakken

25th- IN HIS HANDS
   Mike Wittmer
 

The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,

located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,

broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15

You can view past services too.

Sermon listing:https://www.cfconline.org/sermon-library 
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)