Purify My Heart Lord

           Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.        Psalm 51:10

Many of us could stand a good 'heart transplant'. In other words you may have allowed things to creep in to your heart that tend to make you treat others poorly, think wrong thoughts, hold ill will, and a host of other things. What is needed is a pure heart set apart to be Holy and love the Lord and things on the Lord. 

You all know the story of King David committing adultery and then murder because of Bathsheba. Out of this really bad  stuff, flows the Psalms which is full of rich teaching, truth, and wisdom for all. Your heart can deceive you and can let things in that should not be there. 

The Psalm above is something everyone should recite allot. If your heart has caused you to do wicked things it is time for a new heart renewed by Jesus. Often when you are at your lowest point is when God grabs your attention. Where are you at today friend? 

PRAYER: I want to be set apart to serve you Lord. Help me as I seek to guard my heart from things that would be impure or unholy. I choose to discipline myself for righteousness sake. In Jesus' name. Amen.

MOUTH PROBLEM?

Do you have a "mouth problem"? In other words do you ever gossip, complain, share a confidence, argue, belittle, strike back verbally, brag, interrupt people, lie, judge others, curse, condemn, have angry outbursts, or call people names?  Those are just a few of the afflictions of the mouth. What is a person to do in order to gain control of their mouth? That "24 Hour Rule" I wrote about previously is one helpful way. Let's say you are mad or hurt and just want to tell someone off. If you pray first then ask God for strength to not spout off your anger may subside. The next day you may not feel the same way.

Ephesians 4:26(NIV) is a good verse for married couples or anyone for that matter. It says 'In your anger do not sin and do not let the sun go down on your anger.' Remember the real enemy that causes strife is Satan, not the person, as Satan is in the job of dividing not uniting. Do all you can to make peace before your head hits the pillow at night even if the other party refuses to. Give up "your right" to be mad. It may take some practice. 

Another superb verse taken from the same chapter of Ephesians verse number 29 says 'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful in building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.'  Do the things that come out of your mouth benefit others or tear them down? Just something to think about.

Oh yes and then there is lying, even a "white lie" or "half truth". In my childhood I remember hearing people say "Liar liar pants on fire."  And who could forget Pinocchio, the Disney cartoon character, whose nose grew each time he lied. I am glad that does not really happen or there would be many long noses out there. Lies are never hidden from God that is why it says in

Proverbs 6:17(KJV) in referring to things God hates 'A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.'

I challenge you to do a word search in the Bible about the mouth, your words, and the tongue. There is so much out there in Proverbs and James especially you will stay busy looking them up. 

Do you best, with God's help, to be alert to what you say with your mouth. Ask God to help you and to reveal areas to you that maybe you were not aware of. Now go into the world around you and let your mouth make someone days perhaps by a word of kindness.

PRAYER: Forgive me Father when I have not been careful with my words either directly or through email or a letter. I choose Lord to be careful and alert to when my mouth starts to get me into trouble. I need your help Lord to get control. In Jesus' name. Amen.

PARDON MY FRENCH

Have you ever heard someone curse then utter the phrase "Pardon My French" as a way to sort of think it is cute or comical to swear? Perhaps the phrase "They swear like a sailor". Both of these are rather insulting to French born people and sailors who do not curse. Never the less these are little cliches floating around out there.

Do you have a problem with the words that come out of your mouth being negative, hurtful, harmful, lewd, arrogant, belittling, or bragging? In the book of James chapter 3 we are told about the dangers of the tongue. Take a moment and get your Bible and look it up and read it. Verse 11 of that chapter says 'Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same stream?' We all know the answer is NO. Basically this verse likewise is trying to get at the point of our mouths should not bless people one moment and be cursing them the next.

Sad to say that cursing to many has become so common place many are desensitized to it. Many shows on TV just go "bleep" when someone utters a profanity. Many may think their explicative words are perfectly fine. Maybe no one has ever corrected them. When the F word is continually used over and over in someones speech they obviously are hardened by it.Christians slip up and cuss too and God wants you to have a pure heart and pure tongue. If you suffer from this "tongue malady" he can help you be delivered if you really want to.

Ephesians 4:29(NIV) is a good verse to maybe write on a card and refer to it and it says 'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.'

Today here is a good verse to end with. 'Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.' Psalm 19:14(KJV)

PRAYER: There are times I may be angry or frustrated but Lord forgive me if I have ever used a curse word. Also Lord I want to use my tongue to bring joy and bless people and not hurt them. I know with your help iIcan achieve purity in what comes from my mouth. In Jesus' name. Amen.

GET THE PADDLES!!

 'Clear! Clear!' For any of us that watch medical shows on television
like "Life in the ER", this phrase is common place when the
defibrillator paddles come out in order to revive an unresponsive

patient. The heart is flat lining and they are trying to get it back

to life by the shock from a defibrillator.

Is your "spiritual heart" in need of a fibrillation from the Lord?

Has it become cold, hard, calloused, uncaring and only concerned for
self?

God can, and will, renew you and give you a new heart. Ezekiel
36:26(NIV) says 'I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
within you. I will remove from you the heart of stone and give you a
heart of flesh.' Hopefully your heart is not hardened. If it is ask
Him to come in an renew you and give you a heart that is turned to
Him.

Sin can create a hard heart it says in Hebrews 3:13. Take time to get
your Bible out and read it. Make up your mind today that you do not
want or need to be revived and that you will live for Christ.

PRAYER: Jesus I love you and I thank you for giving me a heart that
wants to serve you. There was a time when it was hard but you set me
free and gave me a heart for you. Help me resist the enemies attempts
to cause it to be hard. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Note to my readers: I will be out of town for a week but have written
my devotions ahead of time as I always do. Sometimes I have difficulty
sending them in group form to my email subscribers so if for some
reason you do not receive this you can access them also at
www.godslemonadestand.blogspot.com. Thanks. Let the joy of the Lord be
your strength!

HEART CHECKUP

How is your heart? I am not speaking of your physical heart, but how
is your spiritual heart? Is it turned onto things of the spirit of God
or is it cold, hard hearted, and deceitful?

The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23( NIV) 'above all else guard your
heart, for out of it flow the issues of life.' Further in Matthew
6:20-21(NIV) says 'But store up for it yourselves treasures in heaven
where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break
through and steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be
also.' Now that verse makes lots of sense. If you are in love, your
heart is "sold out" to your beloved. You want to be with them and want
to do nice things for them. In a similar way, a heart "sold out" to
Jesus can not get enough of His word or praising Him. A person who has
a heart for God wants to spend time with Him and please Him.

Do you need a heart check up? Is your heart growing cold and hard
towards things of the spirit? Would you rather spend more time doing
worldly things than spend time with God? Have you given your heart to
Jesus? Does He live within your heart? Sin can cause a heart to be
hardened and separated from God.

Jeremiah 17:9-10(NIV) says 'The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their
conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.' What does God find
out about you from your heart? Is it storing up anger, revenge, hate,
bitterness, jealousy, or is it filled with peace, joy, mercy and
forgiveness?

If you do not know and you want Jesus to come live in your heart just
say this simple prayer that follows. Lord Jesus I love you. Forgive me
Lord for my sins. I want to live a life pleasing to you and serve
you. Come into my heart Lord Jesus and transform my cold hard heart
into one conformed to your image.

Let me close with a great Bible verse about the heart from Psalm
51:10(NIV) and it could also be a prayer. It says 'Create in me a
clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me.' Ask God and
He will come into your heart.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want you to be in my heart. I do not want to live
a life to make Satan happy but I want to make you happy. Search me oh
God and cleanse me from any unrighteousness in my life. In Jesus'
name. Amen.

Click link below for a wonderful song to go along with this writing.
http://youtu.be/KjifPOBLowk

DRESSING FOR GOD , PART 3

Did you wake up today and put on your 'armor of God'? Before you step out into the world that awaits you each day you need to have on your spiritual clothes as well as your clothes in your closet. You have to be armed and ready to stand up against the tests and trials that may confront you each and every day. Satan throws darts at you and spiritual armor equips you to stand up against him and his schemes. When you exit your home you are entering the battlefield so be prepared.

Have you prayed? Have you examined your heart to insure it is following God? Psalm 51:10 tells us "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Is your heart pure and holy? Do you have something against someone that needs to be forgiven and start the restoration process? Psalm 66:18 reminds us "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened". We can pray til we are blue in the face, so to speak, but you are going nowhere til you have confessed your wrongdoings and sins to the Lord.

When you dress for God are you right before God and have asked him to keep you from willfully sinning? Did you know even taking  home little office supplies here and there is a form of stealing? Also making personal copies on the office copy machine is taking things from your boss as someone has to pay for it. Cheating on a time card is another. Integrity begins at home and should follow you right out the door and into the workplace and community. So when you dress up in the morning ask God to give you a heart of integrity as well.

We can look holy on the outside by our appearance but inside have a life that is nothing close to being Christlike. In Matthew 23:25-26 it says "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Also one more issue for dressing for God for women is do you dress modestly? Do you try to draw attention to parts of your body or show things you should only be showing to your spouse? We are to be women of modest attire. If you have a daughter you have the authority as a mom to keep her dressed in a pure and holy fashion. Do not have her dressing to make men lust after her. Glorify God in your clothing choices as well. 1 Timothy 2:9 says "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes".

And finally make sure your mouth is 'dressed' for the day? Did you curse recently, belittle someone, gossip, lie, argue, or brag? Take time now to ask God to help clean up your speech and dress it with graciousness. Ephesians 4:29 says "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Seek to 'dress up' each day both spiritually and physically and do all things to be pleasing to the Lord.

PRAYER: Father in heaven I want to be dressed for battle and armed and ready to take on any challenges the enemy, Satan, may throw at me. In Jesus Name. Amen.